Only 10 of 41 Northside schools met Adequate Yearly Progress, according to reports released this week by the state.

One school that had failed in 2004 and 2005, Northview Middle School, is the Washington Township district’s only secondary school to meet the federal progress standards this year. Four Washington Township schools met the standards.

“We made great progress from last year to this year,” said Principal Tina Merriweather. “Things are changing in a positive way.”

DID YOUR SCHOOL MAKE THE GRADE?Find out how your child’s school did on the No Child Left Behind measurement.

Once on an “academic watch” status, Northview Middle School teachers and staff turned around results by starting the Do Your Best on the Test program. The school had the slogan emblazoned on T-shirts, pencils, buttons and posters in the hall. Parents learned how to read test scores and to emphasize the importance of attendance, sleep and good meals.

The program may be one that other Northside schools will look to mimic.

In Lawrence Township, only Indian Creek — one of two magnet schools that offers specialized programs for students — passed in the 16-school district. Lawrence school leaders did not return calls seeking comment.

In Pike Township, five of 13 schools passed. Educators are evaluating the next step.

“Washington Township is one of the districts that will all eventually fail AYP,” said Jim Mervilde, Washington Township Schools superintendent. “We are a big, diverse district with a high level of poverty. Our goal is to educate every child.”

The federal No Child Left Behind Act requires schools that receive federal money to show annual improvements in the academic achievement of the overall student population. All schools are measured, however, and must show improvement in identified student subgroups within the general population, including economic background, race and ethnicity, limited English proficiency and special education.

If a school fails in one group, the entire school fails to make AYP, which can affect if schools receive certain federal funding.

In Pike schools, administrators share the data with principals, teachers and grade-level teams to improve student achievement, said Beth Niedermeyer, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction.

Pike’s weakness showed in English and language arts, Niedermeyer said. A committee is creating an initiative to increase community awareness of the importance of literacy.

A group of teachers also has met after work to have book studies, Niedermeyer said. It started a grass-roots effort among the teachers to inspire their colleagues and “build a climate of literacy.”

“We are working so hard to ensure our students are being successful regardless of benchmarks,” Niedermeyer said.

Some question if the progress assessment should be altered or eliminated. Washington Township’s leader has his own opinion.

“No Child Left Behind is exactly the right thing to do, and it’s done exactly the wrong way,” Mervilde said. “The biggest issue is schools don’t have a steady target to shoot at.”

Are changes ahead?

“No Child Left Behind is doomed to be rethought because it uses the concept that punishment leads to greatness,” Mervilde said. “I believe you have to inspire and lead people.”