WDE releases school performance reports

School is challenging because it needs to be challenging. Overcoming obstacles is often the best way to learn. These trials are not just a student’s obligation, but also the education system.

The Wyoming Department of Education has released the 2014-15 School Performance Reports for Hot Spring County School District #1. These reports are published annually and grade our local school system on it performance. The performance grades are separated into four different categories: exceeding expectations, meeting expectations, partially meeting expectations, and not meeting expectations.

Each school has indicators that are applied to reach one of the four grades. These indicators are growth, equity and achievement. A statistical formula is used to determine if the students are meeting the required targets. Data is gathered from several different tests like PAWS and ACT, depending on which grade level is being evaluated.

Both Ralph Witter’s Elementary and Thermopolis Middle School have a meeting expectations evaluation. Schools in this category demonstrated performance that met or exceeded target on multiple performance indicators. All of these schools met or exceeded state targets in achievement. They typically met or exceeded targets on students growth and promotion of equity or fell below target on growth or equity while exceeding target on achievement.

Hot Springs County High School High School evaluation was partially meeting expectations. The indicators for growth and the graduation rate both fell below the set targets. Schools in this category demonstrated either unacceptable levels of achievement or were below target on improving the achievement of below-proficient students and on graduation rate and tested readiness. Many schools in this category showed acceptable performance in promoting equity based on growth for low achieving students and/or met target for student readiness.

The following statement from the HSCHS Principal Scott Shoop explains the low report for the high school.

“Growth is a median student growth percentile (MGP) in reading and math combined for all students during grades ten and eleven as measured on subject area tests of the Explore, Plan, and ACT. Our tenth grade from last year, current juniors, scored very poorly in math. A historical issue with this class, we have been employing interventions, but did not realize the gains we were hoping to see on the ACT.

Our Seniors did not score well enough in math to compensate for this poor showing, so the combined score was 8% points off the cut score.

Graduation rate is a measure of the extended rate (i.e.,four year on-time cohort plus five, six and seven year graduates). The data used for this percentage was for the graduating class of 2014. It is a fairly confusing formula they use to calculate this percentage, but we do acknowledge this class in particular was out of the norm for graduating classes as far as the high number of dropouts for this class. The target was 80%, this class was 77.6%.

Staff is working hard to “fix” these issues and help the students overcome deficiencies from prior years. The system has been flooded with opportunities for students to access the curriculum.

Staff employs a three Tier System of interventions, designed to catch students before they fail. It is not okay to choose to take an F on an assignment or assessment. Teachers are helping students be more accountable for their learning.

Lastly, staff is ramping up the rigor by launching an Acceleration Initiative, designed to challenge students. AP classes, honors classes, and more dual credit classes are being offered. Antecedent to all of that is the hard work we are putting into providing a learning climate where students can be successful.”