Hamilton County Schools Superintendent Jim Scales said more than once today district schools are “heading in the right direction,” but cautioned that there is still work to be done, particularly in addressing graduation rates.

Hamilton County school officials held a news conference today to discuss how three schools improved under the federal government’s No Child Left Behind Act.

For the first time since the 2002 law was implemented, East Lake and Orchard Knob elementary schools moved into “good standing” after meeting “adequate yearly progress” benchmarks under the federal law. The two schools are now off the state’s High Priority List.

East Side Elementary School made the AYP list this year, but must achieve another year of progress to make it off the High Priority List.

Including the Chattanooga Middle Museum Magnet school, which closed after the 2007-2008 school year, six Hamilton County schools are on the state’s High Priority List, well below tallies in districts such as Memphis or Davidson County, according to Dr. Scales.

For complete coverage read tomorrow’s Chattanooga Times Free Press.