DOBSON — As administrators in the Surry County school system really delved into the Adequate Yearly Progress reports that came out in July, they discovered that the system’s achievements are even greater than first realized.

After searching through all of the results for school systems in the state, administrators realized that Surry County Schools is one of only eight school systems to have 100 percent of its schools to meet AYP. That is eight out of 115 school districts in the state. They also learned that Surry County Schools was the largest of those systems with 17 schools. The next largest system is Cherokee County Schools with 14.

In order to meet AYP, a federal measure of progress under No Child Left Behind, each school in a system must meet every one of the target goals set for it. Each district also has a set of goals to meet separate from each individual school. If the school or district fails to meet even one of those goals, it does not meet AYP. The target goals are based on groups of students in a school system, such as Asian/Pacific Islander, Limited English Proficient, White, Hispanic, Black, Native American, Multiracial, economically disadvantaged or students with disabilities, among others. Schools have a different number of target goals based on the number of groups it has.

“NCLB is pretty much all or nothing. To have all of the schools make AYP is great. Given that the No Child Left Behind law is so strenuous, it’s a commendable achievement,” said Sarah Clark, a public information officer with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, noting that DPI could not positively confirm that there were only eight school systems to accomplish that because a master list has not been compiled.

Through its own research, the Surry County school system believes that its accomplishment is a mark of great success for the schools.

“It’s a credit to not only the students, but the principals and leadership staff to have that happen,” said Jeff Tunstall, student accountability director for Surry County Schools. “We do the right things for our children. I truly believe that.”

Surry County Schools has had all of its schools meet AYP in the past, but Tunstall said that because of the more strenuous requirements and targets set, it is more impressive to have it happen now.

When AYP was established around 2002, the target goals were less strenuous than they are now. With the goal of having 100 percent of students testing at a proficient level on End-of-Grade and End-of-Course tests by the 2013-14 school year, the target goals become more difficult each year.

“The targets started out very easy. In the beginning, it was almost expected that every school would meet AYP because we have a good school system,” said Tunstall. “For us to come back now, it’s even more exciting. It’s pretty challenging right now because some student groups like Limited English Proficient and students with disabilities are struggling across the state.”

Surry County Schools is not the only system in the county that has had success with AYP this year. Elkin City Schools had all three schools to meet AYP and Mount Airy City Schools met its district-wide AYP goals.

“Our three systems are on one or both lists. It’s exciting for the children of Surry County,” said Tunstall. “All three school systems are such a quality place for instruction. The citizens of Surry County should be excited by these opportunities.”

Surry County Schools hopes to be able to continue this tradition of excellence in the coming years, but knows that each year it will become more of a challenge.

“Because we have such a great structure in place, we have a good opportunity to repeat,” said Tunstall. “But it would be a little foolish to say we will do it again.

“We have such a multi-faceted strategy and the main thing is to make sure we have quality teachers in the classrooms. We are geared to make sure we have quality teachers to interact with the children.”

The other school systems in the state to have every school meet AYP include: Elkin with three schools, Avery County with nine schools, Camden County with five schools, Cherokee County with 14 schools, Currituck County with 10 schools, Perquimans County with four schools and Tyrrell County with three schools.

Contact Morgan Wall at mwall@mtairynews.com or 719-1929.