NEW YORK, Dec. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Edison Schools (Nasdaq: EDSN),
the nation's largest private manager of public schools, announced today that
its students in Baltimore have posted gains on the Maryland School Performance
Assessment Program (MSPAP). All three Edison-managed schools -- Montebello
Elementary, Gilmor Elementary, and Furman L. Templeton Elementary experienced
a marked increase in the percentage of students considered satisfactory on the
MSPAP from 2001 to 2002.
As a system, across all subject areas and grade levels, Edison gained an
average of 7.9 percentage points compared with the state, which declined by an
overall average of 2.9 percentage points, and the city, which declined by an
average of 3.4 percentage points. MSPAP has been given in May of each
academic year; it consists of criterion-referenced performance tests in
reading, mathematics, writing, language usage, science, and social studies for
students in grades 3, 5, and 8. The three Baltimore-Edison schools serve pre-
kindergarten through sixth grade.
On an individual school basis, Montebello posted the strongest results,
with an overall average gain of 15.9 percentage points. Among fifth graders,
25 percent more students scored satisfactory since 2001, and a multi-year gain
of 43 percent more fifth grade Montebello students have moved to the
satisfactory level since 2000. Among Montebello third graders, an average of
7 percent more were satisfactory since 2001, and a multi-year gain included 34
percent more third grade students satisfactory since 2000.
Gilmor and Furman Templeton also showed impressive results that indicate
solid gains and progress since 2001. Gilmor had an overall average increase
of 5.9 percent more of its students progressing to satisfactory levels, and
Furman Templeton had an overall average increase of 5.5 percent more of its
students considered satisfactory on the MSPAP.
"This is incredibly encouraging news and an important accomplishment on
the part of these three schools," said John Chubb, Edison's Chief Education
Officer. "The MSPAP is perhaps the most demanding assessment in the nation
-- this is no basic skills test -- and all three Edison Baltimore schools have
shown that their students can perform at high levels. These scores affirm the
progress that we saw on the CTBS this past Spring, and are all the more
impressive given a comparison to the state and district.
"Montebello's gains merit special attention because they come on top of
major gains last year. We are incredibly proud of all our Baltimore
principals, teachers, staff and students who have worked so hard and remain
committed to growing and achieving at increasingly high levels."
Along with improving achievement, Edison-Baltimore schools have high
levels of parental satisfaction. In an independently administered and
anonymous survey of parent satisfaction, as measured by Harris Interactive,
one of the nation's leading independent pollsters, 97 percent of parents rate
Montebello Elementary an A or B; 91 percent of parents rate Gilmor Elementary
an A or B; and 76 percent of parents rate Furman Templeton an A or B. These
satisfaction rates are much higher than parents at public schools in general,
where only 68 percent of parents rate their child's public school an A or B,
as measured by the most recent Gallup Poll published by Phi Delta Kappa in
September 2001.
Edison's system-wide test results in Baltimore are particularly note
worthy as Montebello, Gilmor and Furman Templeton have historically been among
the lowest performing schools in the city. The three schools have undergone a
significant change in academic performance and have created a more positive
school culture since Edison took over their management in the fall of 2000.
Reconstituted by the Maryland State Department of Education, the schools are
managed by Edison under a unique arrangement with the State.
About Edison Schools
Edison is the nation's largest private manager of public schools. Edison
educates approximately 110,000 students in 150 full-year schools and 178
summer schools across the country. Through contracts with local school
districts, states, and public charter school boards, Edison assumes
educational and operational responsibility for individual schools in return
for funding that is generally comparable to that spent on other public schools
in the area. Over the course of three years of intensive research, Edison's
team of leading educators and scholars developed an innovative curriculum and
school design. Edison opened its first four schools in August 1995, and has
grown rapidly in every subsequent year.
Any statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and
prospects for Edison, including statements about Edison's future financial
results and other 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 that Edison could lose revenue if it is unable to enroll enough
students or to attract and retain enough principals and teachers, Edison's
management agreements involve financial risk and are terminable under
specified circumstances prior to their expiration, Edison could be come liable
for its charter schools' financial obligations and other factors discussed in
our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on September
30, 2002. In addition, the forward-looking statements included in this press
release represent Edison's estimates as of December 9, 2002. Edison
anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause Edison's
estimates to change. However, 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 December 9, 2002.
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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