How Did Central Ohio Schools Do on State Report Cards?

September 16, 2024

0 2 minutes read

The Ohio Department of Education has released its annual report cards for school districts, showing mixed results in central Ohio. Some districts improved, while others saw declines or no change in their ratings. The report evaluates districts across six categories—achievement, progress, early literacy, gap closing, graduation, and readiness (which is not assessed this year). The state now uses a star system instead of the previous A-F letter grades, which was implemented two years ago.

Key Highlight:

Columbus City Schools, the largest district in Ohio, retained its two-star rating with no changes from the previous year. South-Western City Schools kept its three-and-a-half-star rating overall but saw a drop in achievement and gap closing, each by one star. However, the district improved its graduation rate by one star, moving from two to three stars.
Olentangy Local Schools, the fourth-largest district in Ohio, sustained a perfect five-star rating across all categories. Chief Academic Officer Michelle Blackley credited this achievement to the dedicated efforts of principals, teachers, and support staff. Similarly, Upper Arlington also earned a five-star rating in every category, with Superintendent Robert Hunt attributing the success to the district’s staff, students, and strong community support.
Grandview Heights City School District achieved five stars in all categories, improving from a four-star rating in progress to five stars this year. Superintendent Andy Culp attributed this success to targeted improvements in state testing preparation and teaching key concepts earlier. Culp noted that the changes implemented had a significant positive impact.
Pickerington Local Schools kept its overall four-and-a-half-star rating, with students scoring higher in each component compared to the previous year. Assistant Superintendent Alesia Gillison attributed this improvement to effective classroom practices, indicating forward momentum and growth. Pickerington Local Schools saw an increase in enrollment, growing by 200 students to a total of 11,222. The district’s commitment to quality education is aimed at ensuring success for all students.
Westerville City Schools earned a four-star rating, attributing their success to a dedication to educational excellence and achieving strong results across all student demographics. Whitehall City Schools improved from three to three-and-a-half stars, thanks to better graduation rates and gap closing, though Superintendent Sharee Wells acknowledged ongoing challenges. Rural Fairbanks Local Schools received an overall five-star rating and reported the highest student achievement in its history, with Superintendent Adam Schirg highlighting the continuous improvement driven by the collaborative efforts of students, teachers, and parents.
Statewide report card data indicates that Ohio schools have improved in reading skills, nearing pre-pandemic levels. The proficiency rate for third-grade reading has risen to 64.5%, up from 51.9% during the pandemic but still below the pre-pandemic rate of 66.7%. While this shows progress, math skills remain significantly below pre-pandemic levels, with only 55.9% of students proficient in algebra, down from 61.1% in 2018-2019. Researchers highlight that improvements in math have been minimal and stress the need for continued efforts to enhance math education.
Statewide chronic absenteeism slightly decreased to 25.6% in the 2023-2024 school year from over 26% the previous year, but it remains a concern. This rate, which reflects students missing 10% or more of the school year, was significantly higher during the pandemic, exceeding 30% in the 2020-2021 school year. Researchers like Aaron Churchill note that chronic absenteeism continues to hinder educational progress, making it difficult for students to catch up and for teachers to effectively teach.

Image Source: https://www.dispatch.com/

September 16, 2024

0 2 minutes read