Asheville Education Report Reveals Gains in Achievement Amidst Enrollment Challenges

Asheville Faces Mixed Results in Education Report

Asheville, North Carolina, found itself at a crossroad during the recent meeting of the Asheville City Board of Education on September 16. While there were some bright spots, like improvements in student achievement, there were also concerns about declining enrollment figures.

Achievement Gains Highlighted

One of the main points from the meeting came from Superintendent Maggie Fehrman, who shared that the overall achievement of Asheville City Schools (ACS) students increased by 2.5% for the 2023-24 school year. This was good news, especially considering the challenges the district has faced with achievement gaps.

Fehrman pointed out that the gap between Black and white students narrowed slightly, with Black students’ achievement increasing by 3.5%, which was encouraging. In comparison, white students saw achievement growth of 2%. While any progress is a step in the right direction, it’s important to note that only 17% of Black students in ACS are considered proficient compared to 76% of their white counterparts.

“That is another step in the right direction. We know we still have a lot of work to do but want to highlight those successes,” Fehrman stated, emphasizing the need to acknowledge progress to motivate staff and students alike.

Calls for Continued Effort

Despite the improvements, there were calls for a more comprehensive approach to address the ongoing achievement gap. ACS employee Christopher Gordon noted that while the progress was commendable, it wasn’t enough. “The challenge now is to increase and sustain the growth,” he stated, adding that it’s crucial to ensure all students meet their potential.

The board hopes that by striving for ambitious targets, like achieving 50% proficiency for Black students, they can continue to close the achievement gap. However, Gordon questioned whether the current solutions in place would reach those targets, stressing the importance of a targeted district-wide approach.

Math Scores Shine Bright

While the numbers looked different across various subjects, math scores shone as a standout success. The district saw a near 6% increase in elementary and middle school math proficiency, thanks primarily to significant improvements at schools like Hall Fletcher Elementary and Asheville Middle School. Reading scores, however, only climbed modestly by approximately 2%.

Even in science, where testing occurs only in fifth and eighth grades, scores jumped by 8.4%. Unfortunately, the picture wasn’t as bright for high school students, as proficiency across subjects dropped by 2.2%. Yet, even there, Black students showed slight improvement, with their proficiency rising from 11% to 14%.

Enrollment Challenges Persist

On the enrollment front, the news was less rosy. Fehrman reported that the district saw 56 fewer students enrolled this year, bringing the total down to 3,840. The ongoing decline is partly attributed to a nationwide drop in birth rates. Middle schools bore the brunt of the losses, losing over 100 students in four years.

The district recently closed one of its middle schools, Montford North Star Academy, leaving only Asheville Middle School to support the remaining students. It was a tough decision, one that continues to impact enrollment figures.

With public school funding directly tied to enrollment numbers, the stakes couldn’t be higher. In a decisive move, the Asheville school board passed a resolution calling for a moratorium on the state’s private school voucher program. This program could siphon off funding from public schools, and board member James Carter highlighted concerns about the potential for a $5.6 million funding loss.

The Path Forward

Despite the hurdles, the district remains committed to its students. Fehrman emphasized that each school’s goal should be to help students meet or exceed their growth potential across standardized measures. It’s clear that while there is progress, the journey to equal opportunity for all students in Asheville continues.

In summary, as Asheville moves forward, the focus will remain not just on celebrating achievements but also on addressing longstanding gaps, ensuring that all students can thrive in the academic landscape.