MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WMBF) There's been a lot of controversy over the no child left behind law and as part of that law Horry County schools are required to make adequate yearly progress or AYP.
Some schools didn't make the grade, but school did very well and is even a blue ribbon finalist.
Forestbrook Elementary School is one of five schools in the state to be a finalist for the 2012 National Blue Ribbon Schools Award.
The title is based on achievement.
The principal, Johnny Calder, said they give their students extra reading time and tutors to get them ready for testing.
Calder explained that to be a finalist a school must do well academically and make AYP.
He commented that the no child left behind standards are strict and some schools fall short in one category.
Calder said, "I think the one that catches a lot of people is the special education groups and we are fortunate. We have some outstanding special education teachers."
Calder is offering some advice to other school leaders. He said encourage the students to do their personal best and make sure they have as many resources as possible.
For example, the district gives each school a reading interventionist, but at Forestbrook Elementary School there are four, thanks to fundraising.
"It's not just the reading time that they get with the classroom teacher, what we also try to do is double dose them. Give them that reading time but also give them that specialist time with reading," said Calder.
Teachers said they study the standards, figure out what to focus on and keep the kids motivated.
Debra Whitmer, who is a teacher, said, "Keep the expectations high and challenge them daily and make sure there is enough rigor in their presentations so the children have to think constantly or they aren't going to do well on the test."
The Horry County School District as a whole met 35 out of 37 objectives, but under the no child left behind law, it did not make adequate yearly progress.
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