All Chester-Upland Partnership Schools Improve Performance on SAT-9
NEW YORK, June 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Edison Schools (Nasdaq: EDSN),
the nation's largest private manager of public schools, announced today that
every one of the nine partnership schools it operates in the Chester-Upland
School District in Chester, PA, have posted impressive gains on the Stanford
Achievement Test (SAT9). On average, Edison Chester-Upland students made an
overall gain of 13 percentiles across all schools, grades and subject areas
from spring 2002 to spring 2003. These spring 2003 results represent an even
stronger overall average gain of 15 percentiles when compared to baseline
scores from fall 2001, when Edison began its partnership with Chester-Upland.
The SAT9 was administered to Edison Chester-Upland students in grades 2
through 12 in reading, math and language arts.
One Edison Chester-Upland school, Showalter Junior Academy, made
remarkable gains of 54 percentile points across all subjects and grade levels;
students gained an impressive 55 percentile points in reading, 53 percentile
points in math and 53 percentile points in language, as an average across all
grade levels.
Each of Edison's Chester-Upland schools posted strong and consistent
overall average gains from spring 2002 to spring 2003. At Columbus Elementary,
students made significant gains across all grade levels of 18 percentile
points in reading, 22 percentile points in math and 19 percentile points in
language arts. Stetser Elementary School posted strong average overall gains
of 10 percentile points in reading, 19 percentile points in math, and
9 percentile points in language arts. William Penn Elementary School posted
strong average overall gains of 7 percentile points in reading, 10 percentile
points in math, and 7 percentile points in language arts. Wetherill Elementary
School posted average overall gains of 2 percentile points in reading, 13
percentile points in math, and 6 percentile points in language arts. Main
Street Elementary and Middle School posted average overall gains of 5
percentile points in reading, 7 percentile points in math, and 2 percentile
points in language arts. Pulaski Middle School posted average overall gains of
5 percentile points in reading, 6 percentile points in math, and 4 percentile
points in language arts. Smedley Middle School remained unchanged in reading,
gained 5 percentile points in math, and 2 percentile points in language arts.
Chester High School remained unchanged in reading, but made average gains
across all grade levels of 5 percentile points in math and 4 percentile points
in language arts.
"We are very excited about these SAT9 scores -- there is no doubt that
Edison in Chester is on the move," said Dr. Juan Baughn, Edison Vice President
of Operations. "Our goal is to sustain and continue to improve upon these
scores. Principals and academy directors, the Edison achievement team,
parents and students should be proud of this achievement. Additionally, I
want to thank the Board of Control, Chester-Upland School District, and the
Chester-Upland Education Association for their support and cooperation."
These gains are the culmination of a partnership between the
Chester-Upland School District and Edison in cooperation with the Chester
Upland Education Association and with strong support from the Board of Control
and the local community. This unique partnership is providing a new
educational program for more than 4,500 Chester-Upland students at nine
schools in grades K-12.
"We could not be more thrilled by the overwhelmingly positive achievement
results from the Chester-Upland School District. The fact that every school
raised its overall achievement on the SAT-9 is truly a mark of the
district-wide turnaround that is taking place in Chester-Upland," said John
Chubb, Edison's Chief Education Officer. "Working in partnership with the
Chester-Upland School District and the Board of Control, the Chester-Upland
schools have shown incredible focus and dedication to improving achievement.
Chester-Upland schools are poised for even greater achievement advances next
year."
The average overall gains at each school are as follows: Showalter Middle
School had an average overall gain of 54 percentile points; Columbus
Elementary had an average overall gain of 19 percentile points; Stetser
Elementary School had an average overall gain of 13 percentile points; William
Penn Elementary School had an average overall gain of 8 percentile points;
Wetherill Elementary had an average overall gain of 7 percentile points;
Pulaski Middle School had an average overall gain of 5 percentile points; Main
Street Elementary and Middle School had an average overall gain of 4
percentile points; Chester High School had an average overall gain of 3
percentile points, and Smedley Middle School had an average overall gain of 2
percentile points.
About Edison
Founded in 1992, Edison partners with school districts and charter boards
to raise student achievement through its research-based school design, aligned
assessment systems, interactive professional development, integrated use of
technology, and other proven program features. Edison students are achieving
annual academic gains well above national norms. Edison Schools now serves
more than 110,000 public school students in more than 20 states through four
different business channels: (1) the management of schools for school
districts, (2) charter schools, (3) summer and after-school programs, and
(4) achievement management solutions for school systems. The company operates
149 full-year schools and 178 summer schools.
Between 1992 and 1995 and in ongoing efforts, Edison's team of leading
educators and scholars has conducted intensive research to develop its school
design and support systems. Edison opened its first four schools in August
1995 and has grown rapidly in every subsequent year. For more information,
please visit http://www.edisonschools.com.
Any statements in this press release and any other press release issued by
Edison on or about the date hereof about future expectations, plans and
prospects for Edison, including statements containing the words "believes,"
"anticipates," "plans," "expects," "will," and similar expressions, constitute
forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from
those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various
important factors, including the risk factors discussed in our most recent
annual report on form 10-K/A filed with the SEC. The forward-looking
statements included in this press release represent Edison's estimates as of
June 10, 2003. Edison anticipates that subsequent events and developments
will cause its estimates to change. While Edison may elect to update these
forward-looking statements at some point in the future, Edison specifically
disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not
be relied upon as representing Edison's estimates or views as of any date
subsequent to June 10, 2003.
SOURCE Edison Schools
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Related links:
http://www.edisonschools.com
CONTACT:
John Chubb, Chief Education Officer,
+1-212-419-1641, or Adam Tucker, VP, Communications,
+1-212-419-1602, both of Edison Schools
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