Maryville City Schools

District Characteristics:

Director of Schools: Stephanie Thompson
Grades Served: PK-12
Number of Schools: 7
Enrollment: 4,890
Economically Disadvantaged Rate: 33.1%

Overview:

Maryville City Schools has a long tradition of high community expectations for educational outcomes that is shared by all stakeholders, from the mayor and civic leaders to their director of schools, principals, and teachers. The district has set big goals for increasing the number of students who enroll in and pass AP exams, beginning in the 9th grade, and improving their ACT 3-year average which, at 23.8, stands well above the state average. The district is data-driven when it makes decisions, and is very proactive with regard to upcoming challenges, whether those be changes in the global economy, population growth in the community, or the increase of economically disadvantaged students who attend their schools.

Attendance Rates:

2009: K-8: 95.7%, 9-12: 96.0%
2010: K-8: 95.5%, 9-12: 95.5%

TVAAS 3-Year Growth Standard T-Statistics (2011):

Math: 14.32
Reading/Language Arts: 3.84
Algebra I: 5.04
English II: 4.03

Overall District TCAP and EOC Deciles (2010-2011):

Math: 60th to 70th
Reading: 80th to 70th
Between 2010 and 2011, Maryville City Schools narrowed its achievement gap between economically disadvantaged and non-economically disadvantaged students by 1.01 points on reading and by 3.34 points on math.

College-readiness:

ACT Composite (3 Year Average): 23.8
Percent of Students taking AP exams: 11.31%
Pass rate on AP exams: 88.28%
Graduation rate: 90.5%
College-going rate (2009): 76.5%
The district’s 2011 TVAAS status was “above” in Algebra I, English II, and U.S. History.

Loudon County Schools

District Characteristics:

Director of Schools: Jason Vance
Grades Served: PK-12
Number of Schools: 9
Enrollment: 4,986
Economically Disadvantaged Rate: 55.9%

Overview:

Loudon County Schools has taken the necessary steps to meet new academic challenges for its students even in the face of dramatically changing student demographics. Their director of schools has set high expectations for the system, recruited the appropriate school-level leadership to carry out his vision, put in place supports for these new leaders, and hired a data coach to make sure that all schools and teachers understand the meaning and implications of data measures. As a result, the district has made an incredible amount of progress in a short amount of time and has narrowed achievement gaps between their white and Hispanic populations and their economically and non-esconomically disadvantaged populations.

Attendance Rates:

2009: K-8: 95.4%, 9-12: 93.3%
2010: K-8: 95.2%, 9-12: 94.2%

TVAAS 3-Year Growth Standard T-Statistics (2011):

Math: 9.34
Reading/Language Arts: 9.05
Algebra I: 3.65
English II: 2.03

Overall District TCAP and EOC Deciles (2010-2011):

Math: 40th
Reading/Language Arts: 60th to 50th
Between 2010 and 2011, Loudon County Schools decreased its Hispanic-white achievement gap by 6.01 points on reading and 5.27 points on math.
They also decreased the achievement gap between economically disadvantaged and non-economically disadvantaged students by 4.78 points on math.

College-Readiness:

ACT Composite (3 Year Average): 19.0
Percent of Students taking AP exams: N/A
Pass rate on AP exams: N/A
Graduation rate: 89.0%
College-going rate (2009): 46.6%
The district’s 2011 TVAAS status was “above” in Algebra I, English I, English II, and U.S. History.

Williamson County Schools

District Characteristics:

Director of Schools: Mike Looney
Grades Served: PK-12
Number of Schools: 37
Enrollment: 30,228
Economically Disadvantaged Rate: 11.9%

Overview:

Williamson County Schools has set big goals to ensure the continued growth and achievement of all of its students, including its highest performers. At the secondary level, the district has set a goal of having a 24 on the ACT and achieving a 10 percent increase in participation and pass rates on AP exams. The district has increased the time set aside for math and reading at the elementary level, provided side-by-side academic coaches to assist in these subjects, and has instituted district-wide pacing guides. To help teachers achieve these goals, the district has developed a comprehensive induction program and a system of on-going mentoring and professional development. Director of Schools Mike Looney is leading the charge to instill a renewed sense of urgency by getting out to the schools every day and providing principals with the supports they need to be instructional leaders in their buildings.

Attendance Rates:

2009: K-8: 96.3%, 9-12: 95.1%
2010: K-8: 96.4%, 9-12: 95.1%

TVAAS 3-Year Growth Standard T-Statistics:

Math: 2.50
Reading/Language Arts: 9.35
Algebra I: 9.93
English II: 1.61

Overall District TCAP and EOC Deciles (2010-2011):

Math: 60th to 70th
Reading: 80th
Between 2010 and 2011, Williamson County Schools narrowed its achievement gap between black and white students by 3.90 points in math. They also narrowed their Hispanic-white achievement gap by 3.41 points in math.
During the same time period, the system narrowed its achievement gap between economically disadvantaged and non-economically disadvantaged students by 1.96 points in reading and by 6.12 points in math.

College-readiness:

ACT Composite (3 Year Average): 22.7
Percent of Students taking AP exams: 19.81%
Pass rate on AP exams: 71.49%
Graduation rate: 93.9%
College-going rate (2009): 78.5%
The district’s 2011 TVAAS status was “above” in Algebra I, English II, and U.S. History.

2011 District Winner: Maryville City School System

2011 District Nominees

Loudon County Schools

Williamson County School System

Maryville City Schools

District Characteristics:

Overview:

Attendance Rates:

TVAAS 3-Year Growth Standard T-Statistics (2011):

Overall District TCAP and EOC Deciles (2010-2011):

College-readiness:

Loudon County Schools

District Characteristics:

Overview:

Attendance Rates:

TVAAS 3-Year Growth Standard T-Statistics (2011):

Overall District TCAP and EOC Deciles (2010-2011):

College-Readiness:

Williamson County Schools

District Characteristics:

Overview:

Attendance Rates:

TVAAS 3-Year Growth Standard T-Statistics:

Overall District TCAP and EOC Deciles (2010-2011):

College-readiness: