Area Schools Fair Well In Accountability Ratings

(photo supplied / WCS)

The Indiana Department of Education released the federal 2018-19 accountability ratings to the public today.

All area public schools either “meet” federal accountability standards or “approach” the standards.

There are four indicators schools are rated by: exceeds expectations, meets expectations, approaches expectations and does not meet expectations.

“These indicator ratings reflect performance with respect to performance goals for the state,” said the Indiana Department of Education website about the federal ratings. “Point thresholds were set to reflect  how a school is performing in relation to these long-term performance goals. In order to determine these thresholds, the Department used state-level data from the 2018-19 school year as the baseline for which the cuts would be set.”

A school received an overall, summative rating based on weight points for the following indicators: academic achievement, academic progress, closing achievement gaps, graduation rate, English language proficiency, strength of diploma and addressing chronic absenteeism.

For elementary and middle schools, the school has to have between 92 and 138.05 points to have an exceeds expectations rating; 62 and 91.99 points to have a meets expectations ratings; 41 and 61.99 points to have an approaches expectations rating; and between 0 and 40.99 points to have a does not meet expectations ratings.

For high schools, the schools needs between 93 and 122.8 points to have an exceeds expectations rating; between 71 and 92.99 points to have a meets expectations rating; between 54 and 71.99 points to have an approaches expectations rating; and between 0 and 53.99 points to have a does not meet expectations rating.

Statewide, 85, or 4.9% of traditional public schools, exceeds federal school accountability standards; 856, or 49.7%, meet the standards; 592 schools, or 34.3%, approaches standards; 169, or 9.8%, do not meet standards; and 22, or 1.3%, have no grade.

At Warsaw Community Schools, Claypool, Eisenhower, Harrison, Jefferson, Lincoln and Washington elementary schools and Edgewood Middle School meet expectation. Lakeview Middle School, Leesburg Elementary School, Warsaw Community High School and Madison Elementary School approach expectations.

Chief Analytics Officer Shelly Wilfong said Warsaw Community Schools wasn’t surprised by its results. There were certain subgroups the school district is aware they need to work with to help improve and the accountability standards reflected that.

“We are already starting working with our different schools and groups,” Wilfong said, in order to help improve where the schools and groups are now.

Wilfong said the accountability results were a good starting point and they’re working toward improving their results.

All Wawasee Community School Corporation schools – North Webster Elementary School, Wawasee Middle School, Milford School, Syracuse Elementary School and Wawasee High School – approach expectations.

All of Tippecanoe Valley School Corporation schools – Akron Elementary School, Tippecanoe Valley High School, Mentone Elementary School and Tippecanoe Valley Middle School – meet expectation.

All of Whitko Community School Corporation schools – Pierceton Elementary School, South Whitley Elementary School and Whitko Jr./Sr. High School – approach expectations.

All three Manchester Community Schools – Manchester Jr./Sr. High School, Manchester Elementary School and Manchester Intermediate School – meet expectations.

Both Triton School Corporation schools – Triton Elementary School and Triton Jr./Sr. High School – meet expectations.