By Helen Wilbers
Callaway County school superintendents are reviewing the results of the 2017 Annual Performance Reports, released this week by state education officials.
The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education evaluated each school district in order to assess its performance and determine whether the district remains accredited. A district scoring below 70 percent loses its accreditation.
For a detailed breakdown of what the scores mean and how they’re calculated, see Wednesday’s coverage: bit.ly/2zG28Xr.
In brief, DESE releases results annually to assess public and charter school districts’ performance. Five standards go into the final scores: academic achievement, subgroup achievement, attendance, college and career readiness, and graduation rate.
To determine the scores, first, DESE averages districts’ scores over the past two years to measure progress. Then DESE averages the past three years’ scores to measure “status.” Finally, they compare districts’ predicted student achievement with the actual achievement and assign points.
Below is a breakdown of North Callaway R-1 and New Bloomfield R-3’s APR results. Fulton-58 and South Callaway R-2’s scores were published in Wednesday’s edition. Results for the Missouri School for the Deaf were not released.
North Callaway R-1
North Callaway R-1’s APR score dropped nearly 10 points from 2016, to a score of 121.5 of 140, or 86.8 percent.
“As always, we have room for improvement and growth,” Assistant Superintendent Nicky Kemp said.
In academic achievement, scores fell in mathematics and science. Scores reflect whether students are meeting 2020 targets (16 points for math, English, and science), are on track (12), are approaching (9) or substantially not meeting (0) those targets.
The district’s score in math dropped from 9 to 0, meaning students are not meeting targets.
“When all of the data is released, including school level, we will be reviewing the data to identify areas of weakness and develop strategies to improve this area,” Kemp said of the score. “Academic achievement points earned, while not as high as we would like, are acceptable based on the changes happening at the state level and the curriculum changes being made at the district level.”
The subgroup category measures academic performance among minorities, those who speak English as a second language, students with disabilities and low-income students who participate in the free lunch program. Scores in that category remained low, with the district earning 4 points out of 14, or 28.5 percent. Last year, the district earned 35.7 percent.
Kemp said the district is working with struggling students during the daily response to intervention time, which may help raise subgroup scores in future years.
College and career readiness proved one of the district’s best categories, with the district earning 25 of 30 points. However, scores dropped in two of three subcategories — related to tests like the ACT and SAT, and to performance in advanced placement and dual credit classes.
“For the AP points, the course offerings are dependent on if the district has teachers eligible to offer AP courses that fit the needs of the students, as well as working with colleges for course offerings that appeal to students,” Kemp said. “The high school continues to look for partnerships … to (help students access) advanced placement courses.”
She also said due to small class sizes, the district’s scores can be impacted by the performance of just a few students.
The district’s attendance score held steady at 75 percent.
“Parents can help make sure we earn the full points next year by making sure their student are attending school when school is in session,” Kemp said.
Graduation remained the school’s highest-scoring category. The North Callaway district earned 100 percent, as it has each year since at least 2014.
Kemp said the district will analyze the data as it is released, and will continue to work on aligning curricula with the Missouri Learning Standards.
As districts are still adjusting their curriculum to reflect changes in English language arts and algebra assessments. DESE made adjustments to its final APR score calculations so districts would not be unfairly impacted, according to the MSIP 5 Comprehensive Guide.
New Bloomfield R-3
New Bloomfield R-3 school district’s APR score increased by 9.5 points compared to 2016. It scored 135.5 out of 140 points, or 96.8 percent.
“I want to celebrate what our teachers, administration and students have done, but I want to look toward the future to say there’s still work to be done,” said Sarah Wisdom, who is in her first year as superintendent of the district.
Their current score is higher than their previous high mark, 132 points in 2015.
In the academic achievement category, all subcategory scores either held steady or increased. The largest increase was in the science subcategory, which gained four points to score a perfect 16.
“Good retention of quality teachers is always a big piece,” Wisdom said. “We worked really hard last year and this year in writing curriculum and drilling down into those concepts that build upon each other.”
Wisdom said teachers have emphasized building vertical curricula — meaning students learn concepts in each grade that will be expanded upon in the next grade.
Scores in subgroup categories also generally increased, with the biggest jump in the mathematics subgroup. Since 2016, the district’s score improved by three points to three out of four. Wisdom said that supporting subgroup students is one of the district’s goals.
The district fared well in college and career readiness, improving scores in two of three subcategories. However, the district lost two points in the subcategory that looks at tests like ACT, SAT and ASVAB. The score dropped to a 7.5 of 10.
“College and career readiness was a low score,” Wisdom said. “We’re looking at how we can take those kids to the next level. I’ll be going to a couple of meetings to try to see how we can improve.”
The district maintained its perfect attendance score for the third year in a row, which Wisdom credits to putting a heavy emphasis on its importance in each grade.
New Bloomfield schools also improved the graduation rate to a perfect score of 30, up by 1.5 points from 2016.
“We’re trying to use our resources for every kid and looking at how the kids can succeed at life,” Wisdom said. “We can’t fix everything but we try to help them along every way that they can.”
Wisdom has kept a close eye on the district and thinks it’s heading in the right direction.
“We want to continue to do the good things we’re doing and look at what the possibility for growth is,” she added.