Demopolis City Schools earn B on statewide report card

The Demopolis City School System earned an 81/B on the second annual state report card released today, one point higher that it received in 2017. The grade for Alabama as a whole was 80/B.

“I am not a fan of a grading system that is heavily based on one test score, one snapshot in time,” said DCS Supt. Kyle Kallhoff.” However, I am pleased with our grade and continual growth, but of course refuse to become complacent.”

The report card grade is determined using a formula that includes academic achievement, academic growth, graduation rate, college and career readiness, chronic absenteeism and progress in English language proficiency.

The measured area in which the schools scored well was academic growth.

“Our principals spend countless hours looking at our data and working with their leadership teams to implement strategies based on areas of need,” said Kallhoff. “Their hard work is evident when you consider how well we scored in academic growth.”

Kallhoff expressed concern about how the area of chronic absenteeism last year negatively impacted the overall grades for the system and each school.

To combat the problem, the school system hired retired principal Leon Clark to “help us make parents more aware of the importance of attending school and negative effects of truancy,” he said.

“Looking at our data last year we knew we had to put a plan in place for students who were missing too much school,” Kallhoff continued.

Clark has also strengthened the school system’s relationship with the Marengo County Juvenile Court System, who can assist with truant children and families.