Dear Parents,

Cabarrus County Schools seeks to educate every child and is constantly striving to research, develop, and implement strategies that will enable each student to achieve grade level proficiency and prepare them for life beyond our school doors. The overarching theme of our strategic plan is to prepare our students to be globally competitive citizens.

Annually, data gathered from the reports mandated by the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) provides feedback for the system about the progress our school system has made toward reaching goals outlined in the NCLB legislation. Our school system receives two levels of feedback: school progress and system progress.

This year, we will begin reporting data and results based on new accountability standards. I am pleased to report that CCS students showed progress in proficiency between the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 school years.

Ninety-six percent (96.4%) of all CCS schools met their Annual Measurable Objectives (AMOs). AMOs is defined as a series of performance targets that states, school districts and specific subgroups within their schools must achieve each year to meet the requirements of No Child Left Behind. AMOs are the measures put in place as a result of the flexibility waiver request from some of the requirements of No Child Left Behind.

Twenty seven of the district's schools achieved either Expected Growth or High Growth academic standards for the 2011-2012 school year.

We take pride in what we've accomplished and are encouraged by our prospects for continued growth and success. Every person in this organization, from students to staff and families, should be proud of a job well done. We will continue to move forward with the belief that children may be at risk before they come to Cabarrus County Schools, but we will do everything we can to see that they are not at risk educationally while they are in our care.

Sincerely,

Dr. Barry Shepherd
Superintendent