MAHS ranks first in state on CTE

Area high school students did well on the post-assessments for Career and Technical Education courses in 2008-09, according to information released this week.

At Mount Airy High School, 92.07 percent of students taking a CTE post-assessment were proficient. This means the school ranks No. 1 in the state in proficiency. The post-assessments for CTE courses are similar to the end-of-course tests given in core classes.

“It is no accident, nor is it luck, that Mount Airy High School had the highest proficiency rate on Career and Technical Education post-assessments. The teachers in the CTE department are committed to providing a first-class education for all students,” said Sandy George, principal. “Those teachers have set high standards for their students and the students have risen to the challenge.”

“It’s the teachers and the support we have from the administration and the students,” said Larry Davis, director of CTE. “We have dedicated teachers. They work together, they plan together, they’ll go the extra mile.”

Around 600 post-assessment tests were given first and second semester in about 22 classes, though some students took more than one test.

“As evidenced by this honor, the full support of the school board, superintendent and principal for the CTE program allows good things to happen for students,” said Davis.

Surry County, high school students taking CTE post-assessments were 86.68 percent proficient, making them 14th in the state. In comparison with similar-sized school systems, Surry County ranks third. Both Mount Airy and Surry County placed well above the state average of 80 percent.

Surry County Schools consistently has a large number of students in CTE classes with about 1,200 students each semester in seven program areas.

In addition to doing well on the post-assessments, CTE students in Mount Airy City and Surry County schools also reported high four-year cohort graduation rates among concentrators. Concentrators are those students who complete a four-course CTE concentration, such as allied health, and take at least one capstone or second-level course in the sequence.

Statewide, 72 percent of all students graduated in four years or less. Surry County Schools reported a 90.96 percent graduation rate, 25th in the state and Mount Airy reported an 89.87 percent graduation rate. For the most part, students who participate in the CTE program are students who are concentrators.

“We work together as a team. Our professional learning communities meet across the district to talk about common assessments,” said Jill Reinhardt, director of CTE and technology for Surry County Schools. “Our teachers do a very good job teaching every day.”

The Mount Airy News
April 4, 2010
by Morgan Wall