L.E.H.S. selected as a 2007 Commonwealth Compass School
By Nicole Martinez
The Daily Item
LYNN -- Lynn English High has been selected a Commonwealth Compass School, which Principal Andy Fila said he is proud of. “It means we’re doing a good job,” Fila said. “Our MCAS scores have increased every year for the past four years. Now it’s all being recognized by the state.” The Compass School program, according to Commissioner of Education David P. Driscoll, is a component of the state’s School and District Accountability System designed to recognize, celebrate, and support significant and continuous improvement in public schools across Massachusetts. As a 2007 Commonwealth Compass School, Lynn English will be awarded a $2,500 grant to help sustain improvement efforts. “We’re very pleased,” Fila said. “We know we’re doing a good job, and it’s nice to see other people are seeing we’re doing a good job also.” Fila said English is one of 38 schools in the state to have been selected. According to the State Board of Education Web site, School Performance Ratings are issued to all public schools every two years. The ratings are used to flag schools with low performance and slow improvement and to identify schools that are potential exemplars of effective teaching and/or school administration practices for a more extensive evaluation. Fila received the news on Tuesday from Driscoll in a letter congratulating him on the success of the school. “I commend you for the hard work you have been engaged in, and applaud the improvement you have made in student achievement,” Driscoll said. The letter continued to say that English “boasts a Composite Performance Index (CPI) above the state average in both English language arts and mathematics. Additionally, you have increased the percentage of students performing in the Proficient and Advanced categories substantially during the past four years n by 10 or more percentage points from Cycle III to Cycle IV and by five or more percentage points from Cycle II to Cycle III in both subjects.” Fila also said he was also proud to have been invited, along with Superintendent Nicholas Kostan and two other members of the school, to attend a celebration on Feb. 5 at the State House in Boston. This visit will include meeting Driscoll, Gov. Deval Patrick, and legislative leaders. “On Feb. 12, we have our open house for the upcoming ninth graders,” Fila said. “This is just another thing to add to help them make their decision as to what school to attend next year.”
