ERLANGER - The news wasn't all bad for the Kenton County School District. Eight of the district's 19 schools will receive rewards for their state test results.

        But Taylor Mill Elementary, Caywood Elementary and Simon Kenton High School did not reach their improvement goals on the Commonwealth Accountability Testing System tests and now fall under Level One assistance.

        That means they have fallen far enough to require a study by the district and a plan to improve for the next round of testing.

        “We've all scored pretty well in the past and won rewards,” said Caywood Principal Dwight Raleigh. “Now we're at a point where we have to make adjustments and focus on improvements.”

        Overall, the three schools had some bright spots. Simon Kenton made improvements on its math scores and Taylor Mill did well on arts and humanities and on-demand writing. But some decreases have school officials scratching their heads.

        “We lost a lot of ground in math and it's kind of tough because we haven't really changed the math program,” said Taylor Mill Principal Gayle Helmer. “How do we go from 80.5 to 69.4?”

        Superintendent Susan Cook said the district will immediately begin to assist the three schools to set up an action plan.

        “We take these test scores very seriously and we have to analyze the instruction that occurs, what the scores reflect and then make changes in our instruction,” said Dr. Cook.

        “It's really important that we look in specific areas but at the same time we have to build rigor in the overall curriculum.”

        Mr. Raleigh said the will help students who have struggled. Ms. Helmer said her staff will look closely at where time was spent teaching and if it correlates with scoring levels. She said the staff does not want such results again.

        “You had to be there (at a meeting discussing results), "We're not taking this again,' that was the attitude,” she said.

        “We are working fast and furious to identify the problems and work as a team.”

        Dr. Cook is confident the schools can right the ship.

        “We know that these three schools can without a doubt meet the goal set for 2014,” she said.

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