By KRWG News
Las Cruces – The Public Education Department reports nearly 90 percent of schools missed the latest targets for boosting student achievement, called "adequate yearly progress" (AYP). The results show that Las Cruces Public Schools has one school White Sands Middle School that made AYP this year. This compares to last year's number of three schools that made AYP (Hillrise, Loma Heights, and Mesilla elementary schools).
The agency said Friday a total of 720 schools, or about 87 percent, failed to make AYP under a federally required system for assessing schools. That's up from 77 percent last year.
The increase came as little surprise because state-established student achievement targets were higher this year. Public Education Secretary Hanna Skandera says the state will ask the federal government to allow New Mexico to implement its own school ratings.
Schools are evaluated mainly on student performance and participation in math and reading tests administered in grades 3-8 and grade 11. Other factors in the ratings are graduation rates for high schools and attendance rates for elementary and middle schools.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.