By Jennifer Eisenbart
Editor
For schools that deal with economically disadvantaged children, there’s a challenge before the student even steps into the school.
Poor nutrition, an unstable home life, in some cases, even homelessness are all battled in schools that receive a significant amount of Title I federal aid.
The schools that receive that money – and still manage to excel – are recognized each fall by the Wisconsin Department of Public Education. This year, two Burlington schools, as well as Washington-Caldwell Elementary and Lakeview Elementary in the Muskego/Norway District earned recognition.
Lyons Center School was named a “High-Progress School” school, while Waller Elementary School in Burlington was named a “Beating the Odds School”
Washington-Caldwell was also named a high-progress school, and Lakeview School in Muskego was named a “High-Achieving School.”
Burlington principals Sue Mosher (Lyons) and Victoria Libbey (Waller) could not be reached for comment earlier this week.
The criteria for the awards are:
High-Achieving Schools
• Meet all “Annual Measurable Objectives” for achievement.
• Have achievement gaps that are less than three points between student groups or show evidence of reducing gaps.
• Demonstration high achievement at the school level.
High-Progress Schools
• Fall within the top 10 percent of schools experiencing growth in reading and mathematics for elementary and middle school students.
• Have achievement gaps that are less than 3 points between student groups or show evidence of reducing gaps.
Beating the Odds Schools
• Are in the top 25 percent of high-poverty schools in the state.
• Have above-average student achievement in reading and mathematics when compared to schools from similarly sized districts, schools, grade configurations and poverty levels.
While state report cards for the 2013-14 school year will not be released until next week, the numbers for 2012-13 show the kind of progress the award mandates.
For example, Waller School had a score of 79.6 out of 100 in reading and mathematics growth, compared to the state average of 65.7, while Lyons had a score of 84.7 of 100 on the “closing gaps” part of the report card.
The closing gaps state average is 65.6 out of 100. Lyons did not have a student growth number available, but the school was rated as “exceeds expectations” for 2012-13.
Washington-Caldwell has different state averages, as it is grades K-8. The student growth score of 67.1 of 100 was above the state average of 60.9, though it was below the state average in closing gaps. The school also scored well on student achievement tests, with a score of 77.9 out of 100.
Lakeview also exceeded expectations for 2012-13, with a score of 82.4 on the closing gaps (state average 65.6).
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