By Staff
About a year ago, this newspaper touted the inaugural appearance of Beaufort County Early College High School as an excellent addition to educational opportunities in the county.
It looks like the newspaper’s confidence and faith in the new school was well-founded.
Just a few days ago, it was announced that Beaufort County Early College High School was the only public high school in the county to make adequate yearly progress in meeting its goals established under the federal No Child Left Behind legislation.
Kudos to the school’s principal, teachers and students for earning that achievement.
When the school first opened last summer, school officials — those at the Beaufort County Community College campus where the school is located and those with Beaufort County Schools — knew that many people would examine the new school and its students closely. That was the case. By observing, people can determine what’s working and not working.
Well, it looks like, at the very least, the school’s students are performing extremely well when it comes to academics.
Among ninth-grade students who enrolled in the school a year ago, about 40 percent of them were performing their school work below grade level, according school officials. At the end of the school year, an average of 80 percent of students were performing at or above grade level in end-of-year tests in English I, Algebra I, geometry, physical science and civics and economics. The highest end-of-grade success rate was recorded in English I, in which more than 85 percent of students performed at or above grade level, according to school statistics.
“These scores show that under the right conditions, with the best teachers in the county, these students can succeed,” said Principal Todd Blumenreich.
The school may not have all of the best teachers in the county, but the teachers it does have appear to be doing their jobs well.
The school’s success shows just what excellent teachers are capable of doing when given the proper tools and support — improving students’ academic performances at any school.
Beaufort County folks should take pride in what Beaufort County Early High School achieved in its first year, but they also must realize such achievement can and must happen at each school in the county.