EDUCATION: ARTEA DISTRICTS OUTSCORE STATE NORM

Improved student achievement on state test scores was among highlights on annual reports recently released by Nell Holcomb, Woodland and Oak Ridge school districts.

Students in the three districts continued a regional trend last year of outperforming state averages on most portions of the Missouri Assessment Program exams in mathematics, communication arts, science and social studies.

Testing results and details of financial, enrollment, salary and other data for the past school year, have been released as required by the Outstanding Schools Act of 1993. The state developed the annual reports to share information with community residents about the successes and failures of their districts.

Nell Holcomb School District

Superintendent David Fuemmeler said staff worked hard to improve MAP scores, attendance rates and parent participation in school conferences last year. The work paid off, as evidenced by an attendance rate of better than 95 percent and an 82 percent parental attendance rate at one or more conferences.

The district's student-teacher ratio also improved to 14 to 1 last year.

"We concentrate on our MAP scores, student-teacher ratios and all the other issues affecting enrollment," said Fuemmeler. "If we can meet all those standards in all those areas and come out with a clean slate, we think we're doing a good job."

Oak Ridge School District

Oak Ridge Superintendent Cheri Fuemmeler said her staff took advantage of professional development opportunities more often last year, a factor that will improve teacher and student performance in classrooms.

An area of concern noted in the report was the 33 percent participation rate in vocational education programs.

Districts target a state goal of 50 percent participation rates in vocational and college preparatory programs.

Students previously only attended vocational classes in Perryville, Mo., which limited their course selection. However, a recent decision by the state to allow Oak Ridge students to choose between classes at the Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center and the Perryville Area Career Center should improve the participation rate next year, Fuemmeler said.

"We will be transferring to the Cape program, but if there is a course or field of study Cape doesn't offer, like vocational agriculture, the option of staying at Perryville will be a plus for us," she said. "We think we're addressing that issue and it's going to be a real positive move for us."

Woodland School District

Woodland Superintendent Bill Biggerstaff said a new student organization and increased staff awareness helped to reduce the district's 15.4 percent drop-out rate by more than half last year.

"We were able to decrease that to 6.2 percent," Biggerstaff said. "I think that would have to be something we would feel good about being able to do in the course of one year."

An increased focus on student attendance throughout the district was one of the biggest factors affecting the reduction.

Staff members also identified students whose grades, attendance or behavior put them at risk of dropping out of school and made additional efforts to keep the student interested in school, Biggerstaff said.

The addition of a Renaissance Club -- a national student organization that promotes school attendance, academics and behavior -- also has been a benefit.

"The old adage students do not rise to low expectations is true, and we tried to emphasize that," Biggerstaff said.