High Performing Schools

• Excel at state exams. Students either meet or exceed grade-level expectations in English, math, and science.
• Offer challenging curricula to all students.
• Set an expectation that all children will learn and achieve.
• Develop successful parental and community partnerships.
• Offer individualized support programs for students.
• Demand consistent attendance and punctuality from all students.
• Have strong principal, and teachers committed to seeing students succeed.

Improving Schools

• Show overall improvements over the last two years.
• Have improved MEAP scores, with 10-percent increase in two subject areas.
• Have students who are performing at a satisfactory rate in English, math, and science.
• Have an acceptable leadership team.
• Have challenging curricula for most students.
• Provide standard support programs for students.
• Have sufficient parental and community partnerships.

Aspiring Schools

• Are either close to becoming High Performing schools, or close to becoming Improving schools.
• Test scores within this category, therefore, have wide ranges.
• Have improved MEAP scores, with a 5-percent increase over the prior year.
• Have average performance in English, math, and science.
• Have an adequate leadership team.
• Have challenging curricula for most students.
• Provide basic support programs for students.
• Have sufficient parental and community partnerships.

Emerging High Schools

• Have demonstrated the ability to assist students in obtaining satisfactory MEAP, ACT, and SAT scores.
• Offer college prep curricula to most students.
• Have strong graduation and grade-level-retention rates.
• Move most students onto college or post-secondary training programs.
• Encourage attendance and punctuality