Dothan City Schools Superintendent Dr. Sam Nichols held a press conference to share some good news.

All schools met their goals on the reading and math exams which in return met their AYP goals.

Dr. Nichols thanked everyone involved in the school system, including those who started the "Yes, We Can!" Program and the Faine and Greenview Project.

He says all these forces made the "No Child Left Behind" Act a success locally.

"One-hundred percent of our schools, that's all 17, met 100 percent of their goals on the Alabama reading and math test and the Alabama high school graduation exam,” says Dr. Nichols.

Despite all the bad news of pro-ration, the Dothan City School System has something to be thankful for.

AYP was met last year, which means reading and math test scores were good, graduation exams were passed and attendance and participation were up in schools.

"One more year of making adequate yearly progress-they are off the school improvement list, and that's our goal- to make this happen this next school year," says Dr. Nichols.

The Dothan school board decided to change the grade system to a 10 point scale, which would leave any score below a 70 a failing grade.

This is part of the southern regional education board's reform initiative made possible by a grant received from the Wiregrass foundation, so it will be research driven.

Teachers are confident the change will not have a negative effect on AYP.

"As students transfer it, it will match up better with the school systems around us, and as we send them to colleges and universities. Most are on a 10 point scale already, so it's not going to have that big of an effect," says Northview High School Principal Ron Snell.

And the school board plans on making sure there is help for those students who have a hard time making the grade.

"Effective intervention at whatever level the student may be at. That’s the key- effective intervention and a highly effective teacher in the classroom," says Dr. Nichols.

When asked about the possibility of the Alabama graduation exam changing to "end of course subject exams." Dr. Nichols said the system will be ready to meet and exceed those goals as well.