Miller Middle School has been identified as a "persistently low-achieving" school by the U.S. Department of Education. The Marshalltown Community School District announced Miller's listing as one of 35 low-performing schools in the state.
The designation is based on the past three years of test scores by students on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills. Miller has an average of less than 67 percent of its students deemed proficient in math and reading as a result of the tests.
"We are disheartened," said Marshalltown Superintendent Marvin Wade.
Marshalltown's socioeconomic status and diversity may have played a role in landing Miller on the list.
"They didn't take into consideration poverty level and diversity, just student achievement," Wade said.
Miller Principal Brad Clement told his students about the designation at an assembly Friday. He said since the listing is a result of three years of testing, many of the current students were not a part of the group that took the tests. He then told the students Miller staff will continue to work to improve their achievement.
"The very best that you can do is work and achieve at your highest level," Clement said to the students.
Wade said details about Miller's listing and the direction that it needs to take are still unclear from the Department of Education.
"We will work for student achievement to improve but at the same time we are committed to develop the total child," he said.
The designation is not related to the district's listing on the District in Need of Assistance list as part of No Child Left Behind.
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Contact Andrew Potter at 641-753-6611 or apotter@timesrepublican.com
