Hailey Elementary School is one of only nine schools in Idaho that will receive a prestigious award from the Idaho State Board of Education relevant to the federal No Child Left Behind Act.
Principal Tom Bailey was notified this week that the school will receive an "Additional Yearly Growth Award for 2010" for surpassing Adequate Yearly Progress, the measurement system for the federal act. Progress is measured through Idaho Standard Achievement Test scores.
To qualify for the award, a school is required to meet Adequate Yearly Progress for two consecutive years and to show an increase in test scores in at least one ethnic, special-education or economically disadvantaged student subgroup.
Hailey Elementary actually showed test score increases in two subgroups, and was only one of two schools in Idaho to make that accomplishment.
According to the letter of notification, Hailey Elementary achieved an 18.06 percent improvement in reading with Hispanic students and a 16.40 percent increase for students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.
"We're very excited for the recognition of all the hard work all the teachers put in over the past two years," Bailey said. "And we're very proud of our students because they took the testing very seriously and wanted to show the world what excellent students they are."
Bailey said the award will be presented to the school at a yet-to-be-scheduled ceremony this month.
Terry Smith: tsmith@mtexpress.com