There’s only one school in Covington County’s neighborhood on the list of 78 “failing” schools released yesterday.

The state released the list based on criteria established by the Alabama Accountability Act, approved by the legislature this year. The new law gives parents of students in “failing” schools state income tax credit to help sent their children to private schools.

Samson Middle School in Geneva County was on the only school in Wiregrass area on the list.

The Accountability Act defines a ‘failing school’ as one listed as low-performing in the state’s most recent school improvement grant application or that has been in the bottom 6 percent of state standardized tests in reading and math for three or more times during the last six years.

The Alabama Accountability Act defines a ‘failing school’ as one listed as low-performing in the state’s most recent school improvement grant application or has been in the bottom 6 percent of state standardized tests in reading and math for three or more times during the last six years.

Geneva County Schools Superintendent Becky Birdsong told The Dothan Eagle that Samson Middle School had actually improved test scores in recent years, going from having 57 percent of students score at or above grade level on the Alabama Reading and Math Test in 2007 to 78 percent scoring at or above grade level in 2012.