ANNUAL REPORT TO DISTRICT PATRONS

NORRIS P= UBLIC SCHOOLS

2003-04 =

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May 2002

May 23, 2004=

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Achievement Test Results ..........................................= ........................................................ 3

Student Progress in Grades 1-3..........................................= ................................................ 3

Student Progress in Reading ...................................................................= .......................... 3

ACT Scores ................................................................= ........................................................ 4

Statewide Writing Assessment. ..........................................= ............................................... 5

Student Enrollment Figures..........................................= ...................................................... 5

Enrollment by Race .................................................................= .......................................... 6

Average Daily Student Membership and At= tendance..= ....................................................... 6=

Dropouts and Expulsions..........................................= .......................................................... 6

Graduation Rate.................................................................= ................................................ 7

Student Mobility Rates.................................................................= ...................................... 7

Student Poverty Rates.................................................................= ....................................... 7

Special Education Population ..........................................= .................................................   7

Limited English-Speaking Students ......................................................................= ............ 8

High Ability Learner Program ..........................................= ................................................   8

Advanced Placement Classes..........................................= .................................................... 9

Number of Student Days.................................................................= ................................... 9

Number of Teachers and Experience at No= rris ..........................................= ....................... 10

Number of Other Personnel ......................................................................= ....................... 10

Number of Administrative Staff ..........................................= ............................................ 10

Professional Preparation of Staff ......................................................................= ............... 11

Expenditure by Program ..........................................= ......................................................... 11

Revenue by Source .................................................................= .......................................... 11

Assessed Valuation and Property Value p= er Student ............................= ........................... 11

Total Levy Comparison with EMC and Area Schools ............................= ......................... 12

High School Courses .................................................................= ....................................... 12

Graduation Requirements ......................................................................= .......................... 13

Follow-up Study of Graduates ......................................................................= .................. 13

Building Needs and Plans ..........................................= ...................................................... 14=

Age of Buildings.................................................................= .............................................. 15<= /p>
Americans with Disabilities Act ..........................................= ............................................. 15
Technology ................................................................= ....................................................... 15

School Improvement Goals and Progress <= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:1 dotted'>..........................................= ............................... 16

Achievement T= est Scores

The graph below illustrates the percent of students, by grade level, who scored above the 50^th percentile in the reading, language, mathematics, science, and social studies sub-tests of the Terra N= ova II Achievement Test given to all students in grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, an= d 11 this past spring.



Student Progress in Grades 1 – 3

The Gates-MacGinitie Standardized Reading assessment w= as administered to all Grade 1-3 students.&nb= sp; The Dynamic Indicator of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) is use= d as an assessment tool for K-2 students.

The Gates-MacGinitie Standardized Reading spring asses= sment indicated 83% of Grade 1, 67% of Grade 2 and 70% of Grade 3 students were reading at or above grade level. The Gates will be administered in the spring each year as the reading assessment for all Norris students.     Additional empha= sis has been placed on the development of student reading skills. Adult volunteers, adult para-educa= tors, and high school tutors have utilized “Stepping Stones” and “Sound Partners” to supplement reading skill development by providing additional sound, letter, picture, and word practice. Third grade students took a comput= erized vocabulary assessment called STAR. There were 80% of Grade 3 students at or above the 50^th percentile rank on the STAR.  &n= bsp;

Student Progress in Re= ading

A core belief in the= Norris Schools is that reading is the key to the universe, and that it is within o= ur power to have at least 90% of students at each grade level reading at or ab= ove grade level. Approximately 8%= of the population has legitimate learning disabilities or handicapping conditi= ons that will hamper the ability to read. During the past four years, the staff has worked hard on standards a= nd assessments in reading. Impro= ved curriculum materials have been purchased at several grade levels, and summer reading “academies” have been in place in the Elementary five y= ears including this summer.

Research indicates that it is critical for boys and gi= rls to get off on a good start in reading. There are developmental tasks that if not mastered by the end of sec= ond grade make it difficult to catch up. Our experience would support that research evidence. Our focus on reading improvement h= as resulted in the most gains at the Elementary level. The percentages of students who ar= e at or above grade level at the end of the 2003-04 school year are shown in the table below. Evaluation of st= udents was conducted with the Gates Reading Assessment in all grades and is indica= ted in the chart and graph below

Grade

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

Gates<= /o:p>

83

67

70

82

82

73

79

82

Grade

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

Terra Nova<= o:p>

82

82

83

77

81

85

75

77

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ACT Scores

The chart below provides an overview of Norris student= s compared to state and national averages of students who took the ACT test, a standardized test that predicts college success.



Statewide Wri= ting Assessment

The table below illu= strates how 4^th, 8^th, and 11^th, grade students at Norris scored on the Statewide Writing Assessment this past school year. All public schools in Nebraska are required to take part in = the assessment, which identifies writing proficiency. The charts below indicate the perc= entage of Norris students proficient as well as the comparison of Norris students = to statewide averages. The writi= ng is scored on a scale of 0 – 9 with proficiency determined by a statewide= cut score of 4.33.

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Student Enrol= lment Figures

The enrollment figures below were compiled on the last Friday in the month of September for

each of the given ye= ars including 1690 students for the 2003-04 year just completed. Note that the 1997-98 year was the= first for the pre-school program and the 1999-00 year was the first for the Midla= nds Group Home.

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Enrollment by Rac= e for 2003-04

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Average Daily Membership and Attendance

The following table illustrates average number of chil= dren enrolled in given grade levels during the 2003-04 school year and the avera= ge number of children in attendance each day school was in session.

2003-04 Enrollment

Average Daily Attendance

K

100

95

1

118

116

2

123

119

3

107

105

4

131

126

5

117

114

6

124

120

7

147

139

8

144

139

9

132

128

10

135

130

11

129

124

12

117

112

Dropouts and Expulsions

The table below shows the number of dropouts and numbe= r of expulsions during the 2003-04 school year.

Grade 9

Grade 10<= /p>

Grade 11<= /p>

Grade 12<= /p>

Number of Dropouts

0

1

4

5

Number of Expulsions

0

0

0

0

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Graduation Ra= te

The table below shows the number of 12^th gr= ade students this past school year who graduated at Mid-term, dropped out prior= to graduation, lacked the necessary credits to graduate when the time came, and those who actually graduated in May.

Number of 12^th grade students who graduat= ed at mid-term

7

Number of 12^th grade students who dropped= out prior to graduation

5

Number of 12^th grade students who did not= meet graduation requirements

1

Number of 12^th grade students who graduat= ed during spring commencement exercises

113

Student Mobil= ity Rates

The table below lists the total number of students by building who moved into or out of the school district from the beginning until the end of the 2003-04 school year.

In

Out

Elementary School

60

34

Middle School

37

23

High School

32

	2003-04 Enrollment	Average Daily Attendance
K	100	95
1	118	116
2	123	119
3	107	105
4	131	126
5	117	114
6	124	120
7	147	139
8	144	139
9	132	128
10	135	130
11	129	124
12	117	112

	Grade 9	Grade 10<= /p>	Grade 11<= /p>	Grade 12<= /p>
Number of Dropouts	0	1	4	5
Number of Expulsions	0	0	0	0

Number of 12^th grade students who graduat= ed at mid-term	7
Number of 12^th grade students who dropped= out prior to graduation	5
Number of 12^th grade students who did not= meet graduation requirements	1
Number of 12^th grade students who graduat= ed during spring commencement exercises	113