All five of the schools in the Pike County School System made AYP in academics, but the high schools fell short in graduate rates, and superintendent Dr. Mark Bazzell is pleased with the results.

“We made some improvements in areas from last year and we had worked really hard to show those improvements,” he said.

Bazzell said that a very positive thing was that all three elementary schools and both high schools made 100 percent of their academic goals in the Adequate Yearly Progress benchmark tests.

“The high schools didn’t make AYP due to the graduation rate,” Bazzell said. “Those are non-academic goals and we will continue to work on them in the spirit of intervention. However, those are the goals in place that we have the least control over.”

Bazzell said student dropouts are usually for reasons that have nothing to do with school.

“Dropouts most often have more to what’s happening in the home,” he said. “And, those things we don’t have a lot of control over.”

Bazzell said he is very pleased overall.

“There are about 85 academic goals and 10 non-academic goals, so to have missed only two graduation rates, we have to be pleased,” he said.

Bazzell is also pleased with individual assessments that help students throughout the school systems.

He mentioned the ARMS (Alabama Reading Math Scores) and said that some grade level scores have been exceptional while others need to work in areas where improvements are needed to be made.

Bazzell said that he feels the Pike County Schools are ahead of the game with the new state program RtI (Response to Instruction).

“Our administrative staff has done a good job in the implementation of the program,” he said. “They have targeted specific areas of concern for students and ways to provide academic support.”

Bazzell said he is pleased with all academic indicators and the system is working hard to achieve the ever-increasing standards of No Child Left Behind.

“Every year the bar is being raised and we are trying to keep pace,” he said.