Arkansas Schools Fails Achievement Test

Education officials say only a third of Arkansas' schools are considered "exemplary" or "achieving" while most need improvement under a new system of measuring accountability.

The state Department of Education on Monday released new school reports under the standards of the state's new accountability system. The new system measures schools looking at student achievement, student growth and graduation rates at high schools and replaces classifications formerly used under the No Child Left Behind law.

Education officials say 19 schools were labeled "exemplary," the highest ranking under the new system, while 341 were "achieving," the second-highest status. Most of the schools, 587, were listed as "needs improvement" and 109 were "needs improvement focus."

Forty-six schools received the "needs improvement priority" classification, the lowest rating.