But there was one problem: Too few Latino students passed the language arts test, meaning all the school's hard work practically didn't matter.

According to the formula for determining whether Copperview made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) under NCLB, the school failed, at least at first.

After so much success and one unique failure, the school appealed its status as "not meeting" AYP and the appeal was granted.

What the numbers didn't explain is that a renovation forced the school to move halfway through the year to a location where all its students were bused.

The school saw Latino student absences spike, meaning those students missed out on education interventions other students received.

Now the school needs to make AYP for one more year before sanctions are lifted at the school.

Sanctions only apply to schools like Copperview that receive federal dollars for having so many low-income children.

A wealthier school would see no similar consequences even if it did not meet AYP.

Principal Brent Shaw believes a status of "not meeting" AYP would have been extremely discouraging for the school.

"It's not just the teachers who suffer, it's the community as well," he said.

He prefers the state's U-PASS because it rewards school improvement.

jlyon@sltrib.com