On Knightdale 100's first anniversary, Wake Education Partnership Vice President Tim Simmons said kids know when you expect a lot from them and when you don't.

Parents, educators and elected officials came out to a forum last Thursday sponsored by Knightdale 100, a grass-roots group promoting education for eastern Wake County schools.

"You are making difference," Knightdale Mayor Russell Killen told the group. "It's a longterm project. It's worth it because it's our kids are worth it, our community is worth it."

Last Thursday's meeting was attended by former Wake County Schools Acting Superintendent Donna Hargens, regional assistant superintendent Danny Barnes, several other administrators, principals and school board member Anne McLaurin and parents.

Simmons told the crowd that Knightdale High had improved in its four-year graduation rate and its end of test scores last year over the previous year. It also had more students taking the SAT than the previous year.

While Knightdale doubled the amount of students who took AP tests over last year to 6 percent, it remains at the bottom of high schools that participated.

Eastern Wake County is a pocket of the county with high free and reduced lunch rates. Simmons said income matters, but it isn't the only factor.

For instance, at Knightdale High School, 75 percent of those who passed the end of course test received free or reduced price lunches compared to the 80 percent passing rate of students who did not receive subsidized meals.

Participation in Algebra I in eighth grade was up across the county, but at East Wake Middle School it increased from 50 to 80 percent of students enrolled.

The number of students performing at or above grade level at elementary schools in eastern Wake have increased for the past three years.