School letter grades and test scores show a steadily improving CMS. See the 33 schools that made a leap this year

Test scores are improving. Achievement gaps between white and minority students are shrinking. Long-struggling schools are showing progress.

But of course in a district as large and diverse — and segregated and, in places, poverty stricken — the news is never all in one direction. Still, CMS is in a starkly different position today than it was six years ago.

Here are some of the specifics from the data released Thursday — which covered both school letter grades, graduation rates and the results of end-of-grade tests.

• 86 percent of schools met or exceeded their growth targets — meaning they brought their students’ scores up.
• Nearly 90 percent of students graduated within four years, a higher graduation rate than Wake County and an almost 20 point improvement over 2010.
• Test scores on end-of-grade and end-of-course tests inched up in almost all areas, and exceeded state averages.
• Three times as many schools improved a letter grade than fell.
• 15 schools improved enough to escape the dreaded ranks of a “D” or “F” school.
• The number of “F” schools was cut in half, from 10 to 5.

Some of the not-so-good news:

• 37 schools, nearly a quarter of the district, carries a “D” or “F” grade.
• High school English scores continue to drop
• Fewer than half of CMS students are judged “college and career ready” in reading. To earn that distinction, students have to score 4 or 5 on end-of-grade tests.

Schools in affluent areas — like Myers Park High, Myers Park Traditional and Selwyn Elementary — took steps back this year.

And there remain wide gulfs at a number of high schools between the percentage of students graduating and the percentage who have test scores the state deems not “college and career ready.”

Do those diplomas have a value? Superintendent Ann Clark said that’s a question she asks herself continually. And why she’s set a goal for all of the district’s graduates to leave with some type of academic or industry credential — like AP credit or an automotive certificate — by 2018.

“It’s great that students have a high school diploma,” Clark said. “But so what? What’s the next step? Do they have a plan?”

Want to know more about your particular school of interest? Email me at [email protected] or Tweet me.

I’ve listed every CMS school and its 2016 letter grade here.

Here are your A+ schools.

This means that they had high percentages of students passing standardized tests, significant test score gains — plus small gaps between white and minority students.

• Hough High
• Providence High
• Piedmont IB Middle
• Bain Elementary
• Beverly Woods Elementary
• Elon Park Elementary
• Polo Ridge Elementary
• Hawk Ridge Elementary
• Huntersville Elementary
• J.V. Washam Elementary
• McKee Road Elementary
• Olde Providence Elementary
• Providence Spring Elementary
• Torrence Creek Elementary

33 schools improved a grade level.

Their current letter grade is in parentheses.

• Albemarle Road Elementary (C)
• Ashley Park PreK-8 School (D)
• Bailey Middle (A)
• Bain Elementary (went from A to A+)
• Beverly Woods Elementary (A+)
• Chantilly Montessori (A)
• Clear Creek Elementary (B)
• Coulwood STEM Academy (C)
• David Cox Road Elementary (C)
• Devonshire Elementary (C)
• Druid Hills Academy (D)
• Hawk Ridge Elementary (A+)
• Hawthorne High (B)
• Highland Mill Montessori (A)
• Huntingtowne Farms Elementary (C)
• J.V. Washam Elementary (A+)
• Kennedy Middle (C)
• Martin Luther King Jr Middle (D)
• McKee Road Elementary (A+)
• Merry Oaks Elementary (C)
• Northridge Middle (C)
• Olde Providence Elementary (A+)
• Quail Hollow Middle (C)
• Rama Road Elementary (C)
• River Gate Elementary (B)
• Sedgefield Middle (D)
• Steele Creek Elementary (C)
• Stoney Creek Elementary (C)
• Torrence Creek Elementary (A+)
• West Charlotte High (C)
• Westerly Hills Academy (D)
• Whitewater Academy (C)
• Winding Springs Elementary (C)

10 schools fell a letter grade.

• Hickory Grove Elementary (D)
• Highland Renaissance Academy (D)
• Military and Global Leadership Academy (D)
• Mint Hill Middle (C)
• Myers Park High (B)
• Myers Park Traditional (C)
• Olympic High – Renaissance School (C)
• Ranson Middle (D)
• Selwyn Elementary (B)
• Winget Park Elementary (C)