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School officials in Blount County's three systems view this year's overhauled state Report Card as a baseline for future academic gains and will be working to claw their way back to the top.

The state Report Card -- which was released Tuesday -- contains Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) data, academic achievement grades, value added academic growth and attendance, promotion, dropout and graduation rates.

The state's AYP reports were released in July.

State officials this year have implemented major changes concerning the annual Report Card value added and achievement score calculations. The state's academic achievement grades are based on 2008-2009 Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) test results for grades 3-8.

All TCAP Criterion Referenced Test (CRT) scale scores were previously converted into state normal curve equivalents that were measured against the 1998 base year. This data conversion provided a way for Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System (TVAAS) analyses to measure achievement and academic gain in each school district and school.

State officials recently reset the growth standard to reflect the state's average student performance in 2009. All subsequent years will be measured against this baseline.

Officials have also revised the state's grade scale. "Scores considered to be an A or proficient in years past may now be Bs or Cs. These changes do not reflect a loss of learning but a change in the scale," according to a state press release.

The state Department of Education has made these changes to make sure students are prepared for the Tennessee Diploma Project's more rigorous curriculum and graduation requirements, the release said.

Blount County

Blount County Schools' graduation rate improved for the third straight year. Blount County's graduation rate was 78.6 percent in 2007 and 82.3 in 2008. The system's current graduation rate stands at 86.2 percent, which is still beneath the state's goal of 90 percent.

Schools and school districts, however, can still be in "good standing" with the state if they meet or exceed an additional AYP indicator that determines whether they're on track to meet a 90 percent graduation rate by the 2013-2014 school year.

William Blount High School's graduation rate for 2008-2009 is 93.7 percent. Heritage High School's graduation rate is 88.2 percent, which exceeds its 82.3 percent improvement track target.

Blount County Schools received all Bs in math, reading, social studies and science. The school system also received all As in fifth-, eighth- and 11th-grade writing.

Blount County's Class of 2009 had ACT scores consistent with the state's averages. The system's students had a composite score of 20.5 compared to the state's 20.6 average. Students had:

A 20.6 average English score compared to the state's 20.7 average;

A 19.4 average math score compared to the state's 19.8 average;

A 21.4 average reading score compared to the state's 21 average;

A 20.2 average science score compared to the state's 20.4 average.

Maryville

Maryville City Schools' graduation rate this year decreased 0.2 percent to 93 percent. The system's graduation rate was 91.4 percent in 2007 and 93.2 percent in 2008.

Maryville received all As on its math, reading, social studies, science and writing assessments. The system received all Bs for its value added scores.

Maryville High School's Class of 2009 scored favorably on the ACT. The system's students had a composite score of 24.1 compared to the state's 20.6 average.

Students had:

A 24.8 average score in English;

A 23.6 average score in math;

A 24.3 average score in reading;

A 23.3 average score in 23.3.

Nearly 300 students of the school's 340 juniors took the ACT.

Alcoa

Alcoa City Schools' graduation rate increased from 90.5 percent to 95.9 percent.

Alcoa received a B in math and As in reading, social studies, science and writing. The system received a C in math, Bs in reading and science and an A in math for its value added scores.

Alcoa High School's Class of 2009 scored favorably on the ACT. The system's students had a composite score of 22.1 compared to the state's 20.6 average. Students had:

A 22.2 average English score;

A 21.3 average math score;

A 22.5 average reading score;

A 21.8 average science score.