School Data Form

While LaVergne High School (LHS) has many strengths, including a low amount

of drug and alcohol offenses (6%), a high graduation rate (92.5%) , and a low amount of

school suspensions (2%), some challenges are a threat to the academic success of

students. Despite these many strengths, LHS students are falling behind. Students

show low English-language proficiency, with only 76% of English Language Learners

(ELLs) reaching level 6 WIDA scores with two years, as well as high out-of-school

suspension (OSS) rates (34%). Students with disabilities are also much more likely to

dropout from LHS before they have completed all four years, with a 74.5% dropout rate.

Out of the many challenges, the LHS Counseling Department found three areas

of concern that need to be addressed in the comprehensive school counseling program

for the 2019-2020 school year (in order of importance):

1. Currently, LHS students in their Junior year have an attendance rate of 76%,

which is the lowest rate for all four grades. On average, Juniors score a 19 on the

ACT, so with added attendance, that scores could potentially rise. Building better

attendance for Junior year also has the potential of encouraging higher

attendance rates for Senior year, which is an important year for college and

career development.

2. In the 2017-2018 school year, out of the 1,902 enrolled students, only 704 (37%)

took rigorous courses, including Dual Enrollment and Advanced Placement (AP).

Of students taking Dual Enrollment, only 72% pass their courses, which is 10%

below the national average and 7% below state average.

3. While overall, LHS students average an average ACT score of 20, one group in

particular shows a significant need for improvement. Data collected shows that

students whose parents did not receive a college degree receive considerably

lower ACT scores (average of 16) than students whose parents received a

college degree or higher (average of 20). For students whose parents did not

obtain a high school degree or equivalent, the difference is staggering (average

of 12).