Level IV Achievement Only Half the Story Johnston County Schools Establishes Level V Recognition for Students SMITHFIELD*In North Carolina, students in third through eighth grades take End-of-Grade tests and receive scores from the State ranging from a low of Achievement Level I to a high of Achievement Level IV. But Level IV proficiency doesn't tell the entire story in Johnston County, and the district*the first in the state to do so*has announced a Level 5 recognition. Johnston County Schools will now recognize as Level 5 those highest performing students whose scores are at the highest Achievement Level. The Johnston County Board of Education at its September meeting approved the innovative student recognition program directed at recognizing individual student success on the North Carolina End of Grade Tests. The district's new recognition program recognizes two groups of students in Grades 3 * 8. Students who score at the 94th percentile or better will be celebrated as "Johnston County Level V Students," representing the highest performing students in the highest Achievement level. Johnston County Schools estimates that nearly 600 students meet this criteria. The second group of recognitions acknowledges when a student moves up from one of the State's Achievement Levels to another. These students demonstrate significant improvement in their academic performance. They will be celebrated as "Johnston County Students on the Move". "The recognition program is targeted at setting a higher standard for Johnston County students," according to Keith Beamon, Associate Superintendent for the Johnston County Schools. Beamon stated that the level of performance the State expects on the End of Grade test is so low that it sends an inaccurate message to parents. Students have to achieve, on average, better than only 18 percent of their classmates to be considered "proficient". Anthony Parker, Superintendent, commented that Johnston County Schools has always been a leader in setting high expectations for its students and that the new program continues that tradition. "We are the first school district in the state to do anything like this," stated Parker. "For Johnston County Schools to move from good to great, we must continually improve our services to students at the same time we raise expectations." Students who met the standards established by the new program will receive certificates during school-based awards programs. In future years, the recognitions will take place in the spring after End of Grade testing and their names will be submitted to the local newspapers, similar to the Honor Roll or the Principal's List. This year, there will be a Fall recognition to acknowledge the achievements of students from last school year.
