KOMU 8 gathered a great deal of data from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Look at the numbers.

We begin with graduation rates. Phyllis Chase started in 2003, so let's look at the rates in 2003, and compare them to 2007 (the 2008 numbers are not available). Graduation rate was 83.6 percent in 2003. The rate climbed to 86.5 percent in 2007, which is a little higher than the state average.

How about the drop-out rate. It was 4.3% in 2003, and dropped to 3.6% in 2007. That's also an improvement. when compared to the state average.

Another improvement is in ACT scores. Columbia kids scored an average of 23.1 in 2003. That score was a little higher in 2007 at 23.7. Both numbers are higher than the state average.

KOMU 8 dug a little deeper, and looked at the percentage of graduates scoring at or higher than the national average on the ACT test. In Columbia, that percentage has gone down from 52.7 percent in 2003 to 49.5 percent in 2007. Statewide, the percentage has gone-up from 33.2% to 34.4%.

Let's look at Columbia's graduate analysis: In 2003, 67.9 percent of grads went on to a 4-year college, in 2007 that percentage dropped to 56.4 percent statewide the percentage is about the same. In fairness, it should be noted that even though fewer Columbia grads are going to 4 year colleges, in the same period, many more Columbia grads are attended two year colleges.

The average amount of money spent on each student in Columbia went up from about $7,800 per student to nearly $9,300. Statewide, the amount has gone-up about $1,200.

Now it gets a little complicated when talking about adequate yearly progress. If you look at the results, they're not good. Only in mathematics 2006 did the district meet its goal. It should be mentioned, however, that the bar keeps getting higher, and even state educators say that under these guidelines, no school will ever meet its expectations.

Finally, what about No Child Left Behind? Of the 28 schools, 14 met expectations, 14 did not. Two schools, Field Elementary and Parkade Elementary were listed as schools in some form of improvement.

Recently, Superintendent Chase and school board members were criticized for the location of Columbia's new high school, and the defeat of a school tax increase this past April. It should be mentioned, that under Dr. Chase voters did approve school bond issues in both 2004 and 2007.