| School District Honors Top Test Performers |
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By JOEL McNEECE Several Calhoun County students were recently honored for performing at the highest levels on last year’s state tests. Two Bruce High School students – Cameron Allen, the son of Major and Stephanie Allen; and David Langford, son of Holly and Richard Langford – tied for the top score on the U.S. History test. Both scored perfect. Bruce High School student Corey Rogers, son of Amos and Sherry Rogers, and Vardaman High student Austin Brown, son of Mary Ann White and Arnie Brown, tied for the top score on the algebra one exam. Bruce’s Lee Jenkins, son of Ronald “Bubba” and Carllyn Jenkins, and Calhoun City’s Lindsey Liles, daughter of Perry Liles and Sharon Liles, both tied for the top score on the English II exam. There were three top performers who tied for the best score on the biology one exam – Jermiah Glasz of Calhoun City, son of Jackie and Butch Glasz; Wiley Maddox of Bruce, son of Paula and Bryan Maddox; and former Bruce student Dustin Murphree. Vardaman High School Principal Porter Casey expressed pride in his student and teacher earning top honors. “I am very proud of Austin and Mrs. Harrell as well,” Casey said. “This is a great accomplishment and I hope more of our students will follow Austin's example.” Calhoun City High School Principal Mike Ray shared those sentiments for his students. “We are very proud of Lindsey and Jermiah,” Ray said. “They are both hard working students who take pride in their studies.” Bruce High School Principal Mark Grubbs said his school is appreciative for the dedication of these students and their teachers. “We are extremely proud of these students and their achievement on the state tests,” Grubbs said. “I've stated many times that this community is very lucky to have so many dedicated teachers and really good students that understand what it takes to make a school successful.” Top scorers on the Mississippi Curriculum Test for grades 3-8 were: 3rd Grade Language Arts – Christina Free of Vardaman Elementary. Math – Dakota Murphree and Marbella Vargas, both of Bruce Elementary. 4th Grade Language Arts – Jonnille Rogers of Bruce Upper Elementary and Cameron Townsend of Vardaman Elementary. Math – Jessica Aron of Bruce Upper Elementary and Remington Crutchfield of Vardaman Elementary. 5th Grade Language Arts – Briley Gordon of Vardaman Elementary. Math – Christian Buenrostro, Briley Gordon, Franklin Hollis, and Calum Vanlandingham, all of Vardaman Elementary. 6th Grade Language Arts – LaSherica Thornton of Bruce Upper Elementary. Math –?John Moore and Rebecca Neese of Vardaman Elementary. 7th Grade Language Arts – Lori McClain of Vardaman High School. Math – Nicole Baecher of Vardaman High School. 8th Grade Language Arts – Satrina Massey of Bruce High School. Math – Satrina Massey and Laken Shankle, both of Bruce High School. Science Test 5th Grade Michael Roberts of Bruce Upper Elementary and Briley Gordon of Vardaman Elementary. 8th Grade Satrina Massey of Bruce High School. Writing Test Elizabeth Whitten of Bruce High School. Judy Carnaggio, testing coordinator for the school district, said the achievements of all these students are superb when considering the new curriculum. “With a more rigorous curriculum and corresponding assessments, students who scored advanced are excelling in higher order thinking skills,” Carnaggio said. “We are really proud of these students because they are becoming better thinkers and better learners. Our goal each year is to increase the number of students who score in the top range in all content areas of the curriculum.” |