Kelsey Volkmann, The Examiner
2007-08-16 07:00:00.0
Current rank: Not ranked

Harford County -

Four of nine Harford County middle schools and one of 32 elementary schools failed to meet federal reading and math goals this year, according to state data released Wednesday.

Public school students across the nation must attain proficiency in reading and math tests and meet attendance requirements set forth by the No Child Left Behind law.

Edgewood Middle School remained on a list of schools across the state that failed to make enough progress on the Maryland School Assessments for consecutive years.

Black students, students who received free or reduced lunches and special education students at Edgewood Middle failed to meet target scores in reading and math.

“Traditionally, those are the populations that seem to struggle the most,” said Dave Volrath, Harford schools’ executive director for secondary education.

While Edgewood Middle has failed to meet benchmarks for the past few years, he said, the school has made strides in reducing behavioral disruptions and improving attendance.

“We must be prepared to change the environment and address issues of conduct and management, the issues beyond instruction,” Volrath said.

Attendance sunk below 95 percent at Restoration Alternative Academy in Aberdeen and special education students failed to meet goals in math at William Paca/Old Post Road Elementary School in Edgewood.

High school test results will be released later this month.

Each year, test targets grow tougher until all of the nation’s public schools make AYP by 2014, according to NCLB.

Schools that fell short of test goals

Aberdeen Middle School, Alternative Academy, Edgewood Middle School, Magnolia Middle School Restoration and William Paca/Old Post Road Elementary School.

kvolkmann@baltimoreexaminer.com