Tennessee’s Department of Education honoring York Institute for achieving a 9.1 percent increase in student math proficiency on recent TCAP tests.
Director of Schools John Bush said the significant growth in math achievement is a testament to the hard work put in by students, teachers and families. Bush said he credited Principal Abbi Dunford and her administrative team for leading the effort.
“It’s just a reflection of all the hard work that several different stakeholders put into this,” Bush said. “Raising our math achievement 9.1 percent, you know, that’s that’s a pretty exceptional leap and and so we’re very excited about that.”
Bush said the instructional leadership team monitored progress weekly through professional learning communities to ensure students were mastering the material. Bush said the school utilized multiple data points, including daily checks for understanding and benchmark assessments, to track student growth.
“Four basic questions: What do we want our students to know? How are we going to know if they know it? What are we going to do if they don’t? And what are we going to do if and when when they do learn the material?” Bush said.
The school implemented a specific academic enrichment period called Dragon Time to support the initiative. Bush said this time is used to provide remediation for students needing extra help while extending learning opportunities for those who have already mastered the skills.
“Just by doing all those things and having conversations as a team and just going kid by kid and skill by skill,” Bush said.
Bush said he credited Algebra teacher Angel Beaty for spearheading the surge in math proficiency and leading by example in the classroom.
“It’s a common misconception you can’t be in a leadership role until you’re in administration,” Bush said. “But, you know, I’m a firm believer in leading where you’re at and Angel definitely does that.”
Bush said mathematics is a major focus because proficiency in the subject translates directly to higher ACT scores. Bush said reaching a composite score of 21 makes students eligible for the Hope lottery scholarship and opens doors for other financial aid at universities.
“There’s so many people that are looking at it for accountability purposes, but also because, as I said, you know, it has a real property value for our students and parents,” Bush said.
To combat testing anxiety, teachers use rigorous practice assessments to prepare students for the pressure of high-stakes exams. Bush said the math department approaches the curriculum similarly to how a coach prepares an athlete for a game.
“We try to make those practice assessments more rigorous than what they’re actually going to see, just so that, you know, they get used to that type of rigor,” Bush said. “The homework assignments they give are reflective of that as well. So it’s just a matter of, you know, you practice the way you want to play.”
Bush said the 9.1 percent growth serves as a foundation piece that the institute will continue to build upon in future years. Bush said students moving from Algebra 1 into Geometry and Algebra 2 will now enter those classrooms with a firmer mathematical foundation.
“Success just begets more success,” Bush said.
