Lapel schools achieve AYP

Frankton schools miss mark on standards

By Aleasha Sandley

The Herald Bulletin

LAPEL — All schools in Lapel passed adequate yearly progress standards in 2008, according to results released Wednesday by the Indiana Department of Education.

Lapel elementary and the middle/high school passed guidelines for progress in English and math scores and participation in every student group to achieve overall adequate yearly progress.

“We’re real happy with what we’ve been able to accomplish,” said Woody Fields, principal of Lapel Elementary. “Our kids and our faculty work continually to be able to improve.”

Fields said his school was successful in meeting No Child Left Behind standards because of the work put in by teachers to improve student performance and a focus on the school’s Response To Intervention process, which identifies student needs and work within that framework.

“We get together and examine previous tests and scores,” Fields said. “At each grade level, we make a lot of comparisons, then we try to watch each grade level as they go and see what areas of need are in those particular grade levels.

“We try to instill within our students that academics are what it’s all about.”

Still, Fields isn’t about to rest on his laurels just because his school passed AYP.

“We haven’t looked at the good part of it,” he said. “We’ve been trying to look at the bad part of it. If you’re doing well in one subject area, you don’t need to worry so much about that. You’ve got to find the grade levels that are in need.”

Lapel Elementary completed 17 out of 17 AYP categories and has passed AYP every year since 2002. Lapel High School passed nine out of nine AYP categories and also has passed AYP every year since 2002.