Part two in a series addressing state test results in Chickasaw County

HOULKA – Although the results of the 2009 spring state testing showed some improvements in scores at Houlka Attendance Center, Superintendent Kathy Y. Austin records success in a slightly different manner. She uses her students’ progress after leaving the school as a ruler.

“When we look down the road five years later and they are contributing to society and are successful and employed, we know we’ve done our job,” Austin said.

Davis knows the pressure placed on the administration and staff to produce high scores on tests to bring the educational level of students in Mississippi up to meet the national standard.

“On the MCT2 this year the test was harder,” Austin said. “The questions were harder. We’re pushing our students to a higher level of thinking skills. Yes, we’ve made some improvements.”

However, with the new systems of levels and sublevels in school success, Austin can’t exactly pinpoint where the facility will fall in the rankings when they are released later this fall.

“Where are we know?” Austin asked. “I’m just not sure.”

Two things she is sure of is that the school met Adequate Yearly Progress in all areas and that the dropout rate in Houlka shows the students are staying in school to receive an education.

“We have worked hard to keep our kids in high school until they finish,” Austin said.

The next step for the school is to try to move the students along to the college level.

“Thanks to ICC and our supervisors, we know have the means to make sure every student who wants to attend college will be able to afford tuition,” Austin said.

The staff also plans several initiatives to promote student interest in higher education.

“We’re going to hold ‘Planting the Seed’ nights,” Austin said. “We’re going to have a formal banquet with guest speakers for different grade groups. We want to have the financial aid and benefits available to them, with a comparison of the salaries they could make and offer long-term planning.”

The district will also broaden their dual-enrollment program, offering laptop computers to students who wish to work on college credits while in high school.

“We’re going to require students to take the ACT test twice before graduation,” Austin said. “All of their federal student aid applications will be completed before they graduate and we hope with our dual enrollment our seniors will have six college credits at graduation.”

The ACT and dual enrollment programs will be funded through an ARC grant.

Austin said that while testing is important to measure achievement, her goals are long-term for the benefit of the students.

“Would I like for Houlka to be a Star school?” she asked. “Of course, but I’m also realistic. There are mitigating factors to consider. We’re going to expose our students to the college atmosphere and make it familiar to them and something they just expect to do.”