Average Yearly Progress Scores in for Tuscaloosa City Schools | News

TUSCALOOSA COUNTY, AL (WBRC)- The grades are in for Tuscaloosa City Schools. Only two of 19 elementary and middle schools failed to make Adequate Yearly Progress in spring 2012. The picture isn't as rosy for all three high schools. Central, Northridge and Bryant high schools all failed to make AYP. Central High hasn't for three years, Northridge and Bryant haven't for the past four.

"Basically we can't be satisfied until we get all our kids doing well," says Dr. Paul McKendrick, Superintendent of Tuscaloosa City Schools.

He's been on the job for a year. McKendrick says African-American students and those in special education didn't do well on tests.

But some parents are hopeful for the future. Janice Filer, President of the Tuscaloosa City Council PTA tells FOX6 News she believes McKendrick is the right person to turn things around.

"The new superintendent seems to be putting measures into place that seem like they will have some positive outcomes," she said.

McKendrick says kids who didn't perform well on high school tests likely had problems learning before they got there. He want administrators to continue shoring up elementary and middle schools that feed into high schools. For example, Eastwood Middle School which is a feeder school for Bryant High School failed to make AYP last year. This year, kids met all 21 goals on tests.

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