WREX.com – Rockford’s News LeaderHaskell Year-Round Academy's No Longer on State Watch List

Haskell Year-Round Academy's No Longer on State Watch List

By Inggrid Yonata

ROCKFORD -  One of Rockford's poorest schools manages to get itself off the academic watch list.  The "Adequate Yearly Progress" or AYP Parade is a way to congratulate teachers and students on a job well done.  

Haskell Year-Round Academy Principal, Ann Rundall said, "I am just so proud of the students, teachers, parents and all of the community that has supported Haskell and helped us. It really does require a village to raise a child."

Rundall has been Haskell School Principal for the past 5 years.  She says she can't remember a time when Haskell's not on the list of struggling schools.  "Reading has always been our biggest struggle," she said.  But their hard work finally pays off.  Anthony Harris, Haskell's 5th grade student, said his teachers helped him a lot in learning how to read. "Because I got more words now, and I know how to read better."

Hope Lightharc, another 5th grade student, said studying is "not a problem anymore."  Haskell's Reading Coach, Loree Leathers Allen said, "It's bitter sweet because this is the expectation and our kids are no different than any other kids."

Nevertheless, Haskell's success is a celebration for the entire community.  Prophet Yusef from the Coronado/Haskell Neighborhood Association, said, "It means so much to me and the people in the neighbordhood because something positive is happening in the neighborhood."

This year, more than 62% of Haskell students met the requirements on the state exam.   Next year, it'll have to be 70% to keep the school off the watch list.   "We'll really have to dig in deeper and work harder to make AYP next year," Rundall said.   But as far as these kids are concerned, it's a day many of them will not forget.

Since 2003, Haskell's I-SAT Reading scores are up 40% and its Math scores by 30%.