Morgan City, Patterson high schools improve state grades

Morgan City and Patterson high schools improved their school accountability grades from C to B in 2014-15, the Louisiana Department of Education said Thursday.
Morgan City was cited by the state as one of the most improved high schools with a school performance score increase of 16.9 points. The school is ranked ninth-most improved in the state.
Berwick also maintained its A grade in the last school year.
Performance high school scores are calculated using student proficiency in core courses through end-of-course testing, ACT test results and graduation.
If schools demonstrate significant growth among low performing subgroups, there is an option to earn an additional maximum of 10 progress points.
“The state’s report highlights our district’s continued commitment to raising achievement among all academic areas and student groupings,” St. Mary Parish Schools Superintendent Leonard Armato said in a news release. “The progress our high schools have made with students who struggle academically is to be commended.”
Letter grades are based on a 150-point scale.
In order for a high school to score an A, schools need performance scores of 100 to 150. B high schools scored 85 to 99.9 points.
High schools with a grade of C scored 70 to 84.9 points.
Berwick High School had 106.5 points, moving up from 103.3 in 2014. This score ranks Berwick 21st out of 170 high schools in the state.
There is no special formula for the school’s continued success. Berwick High School Principal Buffy Fegenbush attributes the repeat score of A to students.
“It’s just every student every day, seriously,” said Fegenbush. “We’re very excited here. We gave the kids cake today at lunch to thank them. It’s them. They have to work hard. They do it.”
Morgan City accumulated 98.8 points in 2015 compared to last year’s 81.9 on the school report card. Patterson received 85.4 points, which is higher than its score in 2014 of 79.2.
“First off, I’m blessed as a principal to have such great students and faculty,” said Morgan City High Principal Mickey Fabre.
Morgan City made gains in all components on the school report card.
“When you grow 16.9 points on a high school level, that’s extraordinary,” Fabre said. “We finished one point away from an A. We were a little disappointed. We were so close, but it motivates us to continue to do well, especially for next year.”
West St. Mary and Franklin High schools made progress from last year’s D to a score of C.
Centerville High School’s performance score was not released due to its K-12 enrollment.
“The expansion of diploma options, AP courses, CLEP testing, ACT prep, Jumpstart, dual enrollment, and summer credit recovery have made it possible for high schools to specifically address the needs of all students,” Armato said.
This is the first time none of St. Mary Parish high schools fell below a C since the initiation of letter grades for school performance, said a St. Mary Parish Schools news release.