When you think of successful Caldwell County people in all different walks of life, these are the individuals' plaques lining the hallway at the Education Center in the Caldwell County Schools Hall of Honor. The Hall of Honor currently distinguishes 39 Caldwell County graduates who have made significant contributions to their profession and/or community and who have maintained exemplary character throughout their experiences and careers beyond high school.

Nominations are currently being accepted for the Caldwell County Schools Hall of Honor and will be accepted until December 1, 2009. The 2010 inductees will be honored at the Eighth Annual Hall of Honor Induction Ceremony scheduled April 26, 2010.

A nominee must meet one of the following criteria to be considered as a candidate for the Hall of Honor: 1) be a graduate of a Caldwell County Schools, 2) while attending Caldwell County Schools was admitted to the NC School of Mathematics and Science or the NC School of the Arts and received a high school diploma from that institution, or 3)ended his/her secondary education as a Caldwell County Schools student, did not receive a high school diploma, but did receive a post-secondary degree from an institution of higher learning.

The public is invited to nominate qualified individuals who meet one of the above criteria. Nomination forms are available at the Education Center, the News Topic, or online at the school system website: www.caldwellschools.com under the Community section.

The Hall of Honor selection committee, consisting of representatives from each high school district, the school system and the community, will select no more than five inductees each year. Once a nomination form is received, the nomination stays on file with the Hall of Honor Committee for reconsideration each year, eliminating the need to resubmit.

For more information, contact Libby Brown, Community Services Director and event organizer, at 728-8407 ext. 120.

• 83.3 percent of students in grades 3-8 scored on grade level or above in mathematics on End of Grade tests, a 10 percent improvement over last year's scores.

• 72.15 percent of students in grades 3-8 scored on grade level or above in reading on End of Grade tests, a significant gain of 14.35 percent compared to test scores the previous year.

• Twenty-two of 26 schools, approximately 85 percent, made Expected or High Academic Growth status, the highest growth standards established by the state for elementary, middle and high school.

• North Carolina recognized the following schools for academic achievement:  Collettsville School - Honor School of Excellence for making high academic growth, Adequate Yearly Progress and having 90 percent or more students on grade level.  Baton Elementary, Caldwell Early College High School, Davenport A+, Granite Falls Elementary, Granite Falls Middle, Hudson Middle, Kings Creek, Valmead Elementary - North Carolina Schools of Distinction for making expected or high academic growth and having 80 percent or more students on grade level.

• High school student performance on End of Course tests in English, US History, Civics/Economics, Algebra 1 and 2, Geometry, Chemistry, Biology, Physical Science and Physics jumped from 73 percent in 2007-08 to 78 percent proficiency or above in 2008-09.

• The State Board of Education allowed retesting in grades 3-8 to be included in the End of Grade ABCs results. Levels I and II were retested in the Caldwell County Schools. End of Course retesting will be included in the 2009-10 ABCs report.

• ABCs means Accountability, Basic Skills with high educational standards and Control (at the local level). The state implemented the ABCs Program in 1996-97 for grades K-8 and in 1997-98 for high schools. AYP was added to the accountability model in 2002-03.

• The Caldwell County School System reached its highest level of performance in the percentage of schools making Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). Twenty-three of 26 schools made Adequate Yearly Progress, or 88 percent, up from 75 percent the previous year.

• The Caldwell County School System earned a solid "A" in meeting the federal standards, as the school system met 56 out of 60 target goals, or 93.3 percent, another improvement over last year's data.

• In order to make Adequate Yearly Progress, at least 95 percent of students must be tested and must meet proficiency levels in both reading and math in possibly up to 10 different subgroups defined by the characteristics of the students enrolled.

• The 23 schools within the school system that made Adequate Yearly Progress are Baton Elementary, Collettsville, Caldwell Career Center Middle College High School, Caldwell Early College High School, Davenport A+ Elementary, Dudley Shoals, Gamewell Elementary, Gamewell Middle, Gateway School, Granite Falls Elementary, Granite Falls Middle, Happy Valley School, Hudson Elementary, Hudson Middle, Kings Creek School, Lower Creek Elementary, Oak Hill School, Sawmills Elementary, South Caldwell High School, Valmead Elementary, West Caldwell High School, West Lenoir Elementary and Whitnel Elementary.

• All elementary and middle schools in the Caldwell County School System are identified as Title I schools, where 40 percent or more students qualify for free and/or reduced lunch.

• Title I Schools not making AYP are subject to federal sanctions, such as School of Choice (transportation is provided) and student supplemental services (tutoring).

• No Child Left Behind requires 100 percent student proficiency in 2013-14.

• This is the eighth consecutive year that the Caldwell County Schools and schools across North Carolina and the United States have been held to the No Child Left Behind standards.