Thanks to the MDJ for the news on the Middle School - any thoughts? Great job everyone!

MARIETTA - Less than a month after Marietta Middle School appealed its status on the federal needs improvement list, the state wiped the slate clean for the nearly 1,000-student school.

School officials said the state made a mistake when it labeled the school as not making “adequate yearly progress,” as defined by the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

The change means the state will classify Marietta Middle School as having met adequate yearly progress, a measure it achieved last year.

Since the school has now made AYP for two consecutive years, it also will move off the federal needs improvement list. That means only one district school failed to meet AYP and only two schools remain on the needs improvement list. Marietta Sixth Grade Academy did not meet AYP this year, and, along with Marietta High School, which this year did meet AYP, still is on the needs improvement list.

A school’s progress is measured by students’ standardized test scores and attendance rates. The state also divides a school’s population into different groups according to race, learning disability and economic status.

Superintendent Dr. Emily Lembeck said the middle school missed the mark this year because the state attributed one student’s attendance record to the wrong group.

“They know it’s bad public relations for the schools when they don’t make AYP,” Dr. Lembeck said.

Dr. Lembeck said she learned about the change in status about 10 minutes before the start of Tuesday night’s scheduled school board meeting.

Board Chairman Tom Smith said the accomplishment was more significant given the more difficult testing standards and other mandates the state implemented this year.

“We’re really proud,” Smith said.

In other news, the board approved a resolution for the Hickory Hills Park deal to send to the City Council for approval.

If both parties approve the plan, it would add Hickory Hills to the city’s 23 existing parks, and the Polk Street firehouse would become school district property.

In addition, the city would pay the school board $450,000 over nine years, install sidewalks on the western side of Polk Street near West Side Elementary School, spend $100,000 on sidewalk improvements near Park Street School and put a five-year freeze on a percentage of tax collection costs charged to the school board.

Smith said the groups have set a deadline of Oct. 15 for an agreement.