Maine's 10 lowest-achieving schools identified
By Kelley Bouchard kbouchard@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer
AUGUSTA — The Maine Department of Education today named the state's 10 “persistently lowest-achieving schools” as defined by federal criteria, including a Portland elementary school.
Riverton Community School and the other nine schools are now eligible to share $12 million in federal grants if they pursue aggressive school improvement plans, said Education Commissioner Susan Gendron.
The 10 schools have demonstrated low reading and math proficiency and little improvement over three years. The schools are divided into two categories based on eligibility for Title I funding, which targets students from low-income families.
Riverton is among five Title I schools in Maine that have failed to show progress under the federal No Child Left Behind Act for two or more years. The other schools are Deer Isle-Stonington High School, Longley Elementary School in Lewiston, Houlton High School and Sumner Memorial High School in Sullivan.
Portland school officials couldn't be reached for comment.
The other category targets high schools that are eligible for Title I funding but whose districts use the money in other schools.
The five lowest-performing Maine high schools in that category are: Carrabec High School in North Anson, Hodgdon High School, Lake Region High School in Naples, Livermore Falls High School and Madison Area High School.
The schools are eligible to apply for school improvement grants for up to three years, provided they agree to pursue an aggressive plan to reform the school.
Under federal guidelines, they would have to agree to one of the following models: redesign or replace the school staff; convert the school to a charter school; transform the school through comprehensive reforms; or close the school and transfer students to higher performing schools in the district. Maine law doesn't allow charter schools.
Identification of persistently low-achieving schools is also a focus of Maine's application for competitive Race to the Top federal funding.
Gendron said additional schools will have an opportunity to participate in similar turnaround efforts if Maine receives funding.
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39 COMMENTS
common_cents said...
No choice options for the parents of kids trapped in these failing schools. You voted to live in OBAMALAND, here's the result.
March 9, 2010 at 6:22 PM Report abuse
TAXPAYER said...
I guess you common cents have no common sense !! How in a right mind could you blame Obama ?? I mean he has been office how long ???? Lets get real here !!! eight years of Bush got you to where WE are !! Please when poisting get your facts straight !! Ohhhh maybe you went to Madison !!!
March 9, 2010 at 6:32 PM Report abuse
UofA said...
TAXPAYER- GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT!!! The Dimocrats were in control of Congress the last two years of Bush's term. Wave your Madison report card!
March 9, 2010 at 6:47 PM Report abuse
Dilli_Gaf said...
Too bad none of those students in those 10 schools could read this article
March 9, 2010 at 6:50 PM Report abuse
Blazen said...
I'm so glad these failing schools are being rewarded with more money. And if things don't improve maybe they'll get more. There's a sucker born everyday!
March 9, 2010 at 6:55 PM Report abuse
momof40 said...
In all truth, this is nothing to joke about. Education in America has gone downhill in the past five years, not due to any president or teachers, but a few complicated issues. First is the lack of funding that we saw in the 90's. We used to be able to take kids on field trips and hire as many teachers as we needed. Then came EPS formula, which strangled rural schools. If the DOE really wanted to improve these schools, they would pay the full state funding owed to the schools, instead of curtailing funds during years with bad tax revenue. The second issue is young children having very poor discipline at home. Years ago, if you had called your parents obscenities to get a cell phone, they wouldn't have caved in to your tantrums. Now, far too many kids get away with having no respect at home, so how could they possibly take school seriously?
March 9, 2010 at 7:02 PM Report abuse
Wade said...
Very curious as to why you would send money to schools who obviously can't do the job correctly. Fire everyone in these schools and start from scratch and that will solve the problems.
March 9, 2010 at 7:08 PM Report abuse
wellwood85 said...
None of the things mentioned in this story will ever happen. To those in charge, "aggressive school improvement plans" = hire more teachers and pay them more with no accountability = same old Democrat/union answers that have failed for 30 years.
March 9, 2010 at 7:10 PM Report abuse
stopthismess said...
They aren't just "giving" this money to the schools. It comes with very strict conditions.... "Under federal guidelines, they would have to agree to one of the following models: redesign or replace the school staff; convert the school to a charter school; transform the school through comprehensive reforms; or close the school and transfer students to higher performing schools in the district. Maine law doesn't allow charter schools." Maybe if these 12 schools take the lead and fire the whole staff other schools will take notice and the staff will start doing their jobs, because they could be next.
March 9, 2010 at 7:35 PM Report abuse
Janey said...
I know "Newsweek" is a dirty word to many of you, but take a look at this issue's cover article. It's very thought-provoking, at least.
March 9, 2010 at 7:48 PM Report abuse
Pinger1 said...
You're all wrong, the real blame lies with....Allen's Coffee Brandy!
March 9, 2010 at 7:53 PM Report abuse
Relax said...
Momof40, I couldn't have said it better. No money and no parents equals no education. A child that wanted to learn could do so with only the "materials" in a modern school. Wouldn't even need teachers. So why can't they learn with all the expertise afforded them? They don't care. Why? Allen's Coffee Brandy? Maybe more folks undestand than I thought.
March 9, 2010 at 8:55 PM Report abuse
willindonlon said...
I find it difficult to understand why people don't understand why Riverton would be a school that would have a problem given the population of the area. I wonder why there are no rich kid schools on the list. Better teachers? Better buildings? Maybe smarter kids.
March 9, 2010 at 8:58 PM Report abuse
Neighbor said...
I know several families who bought homes in areas where the "good schools are". Personally, my children are in private school. Regardless, the responsibility for teaching lies with the schools AND the parents.The issues are so much more than simply the teachers & curriculum. There are severe social issues in the classroom that are distracting to all the students. Parents are not engaged either, in many cases, leaving the teachers hanging in the wind. Before you go off firing all the teachers & administrators, I'd challenge you all to walk a day in the shoes of our public school teachers who are not allowed to say what they really think, they reach into their own pockets to buy supplies for the classroom... the list goes on and on. This isn't just a "school problem" this is a society problem. Stop focusing every penny on sport and think about what skill YOUR kid leaves high school with. Its sobering to say the least
March 9, 2010 at 9:11 PM Report abuse
chev said...
[lack of] common_cents said: "OBAMALAND". You are ignorant. What does Obama have to do with failed schools in Maine? - that is your fault, not his. I am republican. You are just an ignorant hater. Go away.
March 9, 2010 at 9:52 PM Report abuse
S2hhbnNlbg%3D%3D said...
Dilli, I am your answer. I graduated from Lake Region High School in 2008 in the top 10% of my class. Words cannot describe my gratitude for the teachers and staff working at LRHS. I cannot attest as to why LRHS has fallen bellow the mark. Personally, I have to believe it has more to do with the preparations made before the testing. From my recollection, such tests were not given much notice, nor emphasized as being important. I'm am proud of where I've graduated, and how well the teachers prepared me for continuing my education in college. As of today I know many alumi, current students and teachers are working to decide what happens next. Any move in the foward direction is an appreciated one.
March 9, 2010 at 10:39 PM Report abuse
Relax said...
Neighbor states "Responsibility for teaching lies with the schools AND the parents. Of course. The question is, why the heck would anyone presume that teachers aren't teaching? Come spend a few days in your schools. Substitute please. See what these educators are up against. I guarantee your eyes will open, your jaws will drop, and you’ll come away with a different (At least expanded) point of view. Why do I pass the buck to parents? As I stated above, learning requires nothing but desire and resources...teachers can certainly help but are by no means necessary. All school have resources, so why are students still failing to learn? Because learning takes effort, drive, and ambition. Those are qualities children learn primarily from their parents. In the end education is simply a reflection of life, invest nothing, get nothing.
March 9, 2010 at 10:45 PM Report abuse
Tman said...
Riverton, I am not in the least surprised. It's all part of Portlad's idiots to idiiots program and is administered the same way the entire city is!
March 9, 2010 at 11:16 PM Report abuse
Oakey said...
Dear common_cents said... I can't believe you said that Obama has nothing to do with it these schools have been on the Bush Train called 'no child left behind'. The code word for one size fits all which in real life we know that it doesn't. I bet these schools haven't learned to teach to the test yet like the big school do! And you are a good example of what happens when we teach to the test! NO COMMON SENSE!
March 10, 2010 at 12:54 AM Report abuse
robert7 said...
OK, so we know which schools are struggling the most, now let's take a more positive approach and see who is doing the best and what can be learned from them. It makes sense to see what works best and try to reproduce that. Let's focus more on the positive and learn what we can from those schools. Maybe the state could set up an administrative mentoring program that pairs struggling schools with those who are successful. It is time to concentrate on solutions rather than blame.
March 10, 2010 at 1:14 AM Report abuse
Scrib said...
Sadly amusing. It's like " congratulations- you are now eligible for millions of dollars in grants because of your underacheivement." Unbelievable.
March 10, 2010 at 5:40 AM Report abuse
maineilove said...
Before one teacher or administrator is terminated, they should start at the top and fire the whole Department of Education, starting with Susan Gendron. Gendron has done nothing but destroy the quality of education in the State of Maine, while costing the taxpayers millions of wasted dollars and using educators' precious hours on her ridiculous programs like the "learning results."
March 10, 2010 at 6:44 AM Report abuse
Isaid said...
It is sad that the quality of education at Houlton High School has deteriorated to this point. The school used to distinguish itself in more positive ways. This leaves little to no doubt in my mind that the difference is indeed the teachers. As such, the consequences should rest there as well. Providing additional funds is not the solution. Demanding performance for what is already being spent is. Go Shires!
March 10, 2010 at 6:44 AM Report abuse
mtc said...
Take note kids, in America you get financially rewarded for not doing your job. The banks, auto industry and schools are prime examples. I don't understand what more money is going to do for these failing schools. Being a parent I have come to realize that the biggest piece in education comes right down the the teachers themselves. There are other factors but if they get a good teacher things go well, if they get a teacher with problems then ....
March 10, 2010 at 7:27 AM Report abuse
WestbrookJ said...
Hey Taxpayer, let's get real here. Rather than try to blame one party or the other, let's accept the fact that public school education has become a game of unfunded regulatory mandates, mostly from the feds to the states, but also from the states to the schools, and from the schools to the towns (it all rolls downhill). It all comes from the fed Dept of Education, and it doesn't matter which party controls, the department stays out of control. The biennial budget for ME was about 1.3 billion in 1994. Today it's a little south of 6 billion. Show me anything in state government that is 4.61 times better than it was in 1994 - especially in our educational system!! No, it certainly is not totally Obama's fault, but his big-spending recklessness will dump the last shovels full of dirt on our coffin if we let him!
March 10, 2010 at 9:00 AM Report abuse
Dino90000000 said...
Mandated federal guidelines and more money doesn't equate to a better school system. And that goes for pretty much anything the government puts their hands into.
March 10, 2010 at 9:02 AM Report abuse
mungo said...
It is sad that we have to create this state of panic just to get school money for children. It took Pearl harbor to wake us up to the treat of Fasicism and it took 9/11 to get us to deal with Al Quida.
March 10, 2010 at 9:32 AM Report abuse
DD said...
Maine just wants welfare anyway so lets just close them and save the money off to get your tramp stamps kids
March 10, 2010 at 9:59 AM Report abuse
redsox07 said...
Hey Commoncents...If you followed politics, you would know that Obama is for parental choice and the voucher system along with Republicans. Really, it's people like you who are all or nothing and spout rhetoric that isn't substantiated.
March 10, 2010 at 10:21 AM Report abuse
backwrdstate said...
If anyone is looking for an idiot, you don't have to go far. common_cents is here to fulfill all your partisan, pointless, mindless needs.
March 10, 2010 at 10:23 AM Report abuse
Dino90000000 said...
So here's lesson here is for you school systems out there that aren't making the grade: Don't try to make things better and there will be federal government money on its way to you. Maybe that works for the government, but not in real life. The IRS and programs like "No child left behind," don't work in the real world.
March 10, 2010 at 10:25 AM Report abuse
null said...
Between this and the recent "downsizing" of multiple school districts around the state, there is going to be extreme competition for teaching jobs. Hopefully this will allow districts to REALLY pick some quality, forward-thinking teachers! I graduated with honors from UMF three years ago and, like many of my peers, have been unable to find a full-time teaching job due to all of the cuts. Schools didn't want to spend money on training and mentoring a new graduate when they could hire a seasoned teacher. Maybe this will convince schools that what Maine NEEDS is a change in ideology regarding how we spend our education dollars and how we approach learning and education. As Robert7 said, take advantage of this opportunity to find out from high-achieving schools what is working for Maine students.
March 10, 2010 at 10:43 AM Report abuse
Sue01 said...
Teachers haven't been taught HOW TO TEACH! NYTimes Sunday magazine had a great article about improving teaching skills - which were dropped from teacher training back when Normal School training shifted to colleges: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/07/magazine/07Teachers-t.html?th&emc=th
March 10, 2010 at 11:48 AM Report abuse
TUVLYXlha2Vy said...
Seriously. It is SO funny to read comments from some of you. Here you are talking about how education is terrible today, when it was great years ago. And yet, FEW OF THE POSTERS here possess even rudimentary LISTENING SKILLS! Half of you who have comments did not even comprehend the article. You could not even comprehend that money is not simply "given" to schools. Yet, you all imply that that is exactly what will happen! Talk about an illiterate population! Some of you are the epitome of that!
March 10, 2010 at 2:06 PM Report abuse
kjreader said...
My children graduated from one of those"top ten" schools and are both attending some of the finest colleges in the country. I know that three years ago they wouldn't be in this category, nor will they be next year. one issue is the way they determine this, there are 3 classes in a row which are very low achieving, the K5, middle school and now the high school are "on the list as these classes go through the buidlings. i don't know what you do when kids don't want to learn and parents don't seem to care. the top in this case shouldn't be the Principal. The school board should look to itself and decisions they've made, one super who had everyone hoodwinked, the next now lasting less than a year. by far the lowest per pupil spending in our area
March 10, 2010 at 2:42 PM Report abuse
Relax said...
Kjreader, are you suggesting here that there are some classes that are "stronger" than others and low testing scores are simply following a particular group of low achievers up through the grade levels? Wouldn’t those organizations slapping labels on your school know that and take it into account before tossing gas on the fire? You sound like you are very close to the problems that exist up there. Those things you speak of are the kinds of things only teachers or administrators would be aware of. Your clearly not a board member!
March 10, 2010 at 7:02 PM Report abuse
kjreader said...
Relax, Not a teacher or an administrator, not even a current board member. Just a parent who cares about education and has been involved with kids in different ways all the way up. I'm not implying, it's a fact and a problem with how they come up with these rankings. Sadly this 3 year group of kids are low achieving, as a group, some excellent students, but they're exception not the rule. All students must take the SAT,which isn't a great way to evaluate how you teach to all tracks of students. The school has many excellent and committed teachers, as well as very able principal. To get rid of these folks and try to start over is misguided. We has very strong classes before the past three and strong groups behind them. I don't like the fact that our school is on the list, but you can't tear a system apart over 3 years of test scores. I do agree it should be a wake up call for all involved. If I had a vote, I'd say don't take the money and show that the new system is terribly flawed
March 10, 2010 at 9:24 PM Report abuse
MM said...
So if you fail your students you get rewarded with federal money. What an incentive!
March 11, 2010 at 8:46 AM Report abuse
Relax said...
MM, are you suggesting that these schools/teachers/administrators somehow MAKE students fail to get federal dollars? If so that's about the "silliest" comment here thus far. Do you really think schools want to be on such a list?
March 11, 2010 at 5:10 PM Report abuse