Middle and high school students in the White Hall School District have improved in Algebra I proficiency following interim tests for the Arkansas Teaching and Learning Assessment System, according to data revealed at Tuesday’s regular board meeting.
The district average rose by 8 points from the fall semester to 1050 after spring interim testing, surpassing the state average of 1044, said WHSD assistant Superintendent Debbie Jones. A score of 1050 in Algebra I indicates Level 2 performance, meaning students demonstrate a basic understanding of the subject, and a score of 1047 or below indicates Level 1, or that students demonstrate limited understanding,
From the fall to winter interim tests, both state and district proficiency averages improved in the subject. In the fall, 14% of Algebra I students in Arkansas showed proficiency and 11% in the WHSD reached that level. Among district students, 22% at the middle school and 6% at the high school were proficient.
Following winter interims, 22% of Arkansas’ Algebra I students were proficient, as were 28% of WHSD students, 41% of its middle school students and 22% of its high school students.
Jones credited the district’s association with Kids First Education to coach middle and high school students. She said the district received a $106,000 grant from the state Division of Elementary and Secondary Education to use toward the contract with Kids First.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
“That’s the type of growth we see happening and we’re excited about,” Jones said. “We took this interim in early March and they will take their final summative in about two weeks. … So I think the coaching piece and the added support is making a difference in middle school and high school.”
Arkansas public school students in grades 3-10 take the ATLAS summative assessment between April 14 and May 16.
On Thursday, the Arkansas Department of Education proposed a formula change to Report Card grades for each school, which the state had previously used to indicate annual school performance. Letter grades were last assigned for the 2022-23 school year, the year before ATLAS was introduced. State Education Secretary Jacob Oliva said the revised formula will focus on three areas of student progress: achievement, growth and readiness. The rules for determining the formula will be proposed to the board at a later date, ADE spokeswoman Kimberly Mundell said.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Three White Hall High School Beta Club participants won first prize in their respective categories at a recent state Beta Club competition: Addyson Kennedy in a variety act, Lindsey Spurlin in speech and Virginia Smart in ninth grade English. The three have advanced to the Beta Club national competition in Orlando, Fla., in June. The middle and high school bands received all superior ratings at Sweepstakes 2025 in Alma.
FINANCIAL REPORT
The legal balance for the WHSD through March was $8,458,506, up from $7,835,814 a year ago.
PERSONNEL MOVES
The district approved resignations for high school Principal Nathan Sullivan, middle school literacy specialist Michele Burchett, middle school math teacher Nathaniel Cedric Jackson, Gandy first grade teacher Michele Moss and middle school choir director Clara Studdard.
Letters of retirement were accepted from high school assistant Principal Skip Carr and superintendent’s administrative assistant Beverly Beck. All resignations and retirements will take effect at the end of this school year.
Certified new hires, effective for the 2025-26 school year, include middle school special education teacher Katie Shaffer, middle school keyboarding teacher Alexia Williams, middle school math teacher Adam Taylor and middle school social studies teacher, volleyball coach and assistant basketball coach Autumn Lem. A contract extension was granted to math teacher Lindsey McGriff.