By Patricia Bogumil
The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction recently released 2012-13 school report cards for each public school and district in the state.
The reports create a more standardized method for parents and residents to check out the effectiveness of their local schools.
How we’re doing
Based on combined scores for several priority areas (see box, below), one school in the Waterford/Union Grove area – Drought Elementary – achieved the state’s highest “significantly exceeds expectations” rating on its report card.
Three elementary schools in the area – Washington-Caldwell, Kansasville and Yorkville – scored a “meeting expectations” grade.
The remainder of the local public schools reviewed here all scored “exceeding expectations” on their state report cards.
Individual school scores, and prepared remarks from administrators, follow.
• Waterford Union High School: 76.5, Exceeds Expectations.
This is the second year in a row that Waterford Union High School has received the Exceeds Expectations rating, noted Superintendent Keith Brandstetter.
“Our math and reading scores are the highest they have been for the five years of data using the new cut scores that have been provided by National Assessment of Educational Progress,” he said.
School officials continue to review data and then meet to discuss ways that student success and academic achievement can be improved, especially in the area of “closing the gaps,” Brandstetter said, adding: “We are committed to making sure that every student has a quality education at Waterford Union High School.
The State Report Card is only one of the measuring tools that a district looks at to check that progress is being made in the correct direction, he noted. “We are proud of our students and staff for their continual focus on academic achievement,” he said.
• Waterford Graded School District: 79.6 overall district score (Exceeds Expectations)
Individually, all WGSD schools also were graded as Exceeding Expectations: Evergreen, 78.4; Trailside, 77.4; Woodfield, 82.7; Fox River, 75.4.
“Out of 424 public school districts, only nine received a higher rating (of Significantly Exceeds Expectations) than Waterford,” noted WGSD Administrator Chris Joch.
“The fact that each of our four buildings independently received the Exceeds Expectations score is a tribute to our excellent teaching staff and principals Darlene Markle, Shirley Guelig, Jeff Worgull and Chris Multhauf,” he said.
• North Cape Elementary, 74.6, Exceeds Expectations
“We are very proud of our staff and students at North Cape. Our strategic plan is a continuous improvement plan to improve achievement of each and every child,” commented Superintendent John Lehnen,
He said the Smarter Balance assessment coming in 2014-15 will be aligned to the Common Core State Standards, and North Cape has committed to the Common Core State Standards.
“The Standards have improved student engagement in learning and raised the bar for students to achieve higher levels of knowledge. Students are going deeper in content, critically thinking and problem solving,” he said.
North Cape teachers have been working with a national consultant to understand the Common Core state standards for the past year, and continuing this year. “Our professional development plan is embedded in teachers’ every-day practice, Lehnen said.
North Cape teachers have also been working on deconstructing the Standards, designing lessons and activities and assessment aligned to the Common Core, he added.
Also, North Cape’s professional development initiative allows teachers to reflect, share and grow to make immediate changes in instruction, he added. “The students understand the difference between Common Core and standards of the past.”
In addition, North Cape has improved technology by reorganizing its infrastructure, Lehnen said.
North Cape had a 21st Century technology plan developed last year and has hired a company – K-12 Technology Group – for system management, he added.
“We have never operated more efficiently in technology. Our classrooms have become more interactive and have enhanced students’ learning. Technology is critical for student achievement, Lehnen said.
• Drought Elementary, 86.6, Significantly Exceeds Expectations.
With its score, Drought is one of the highest scoring districts in the state, noted Principal Carrie Reid.
Additionally, in September, Drought was recognized by state Superintendent Tony Evers as a Title One “School of Recognition” for both its high achievement and high progress, she added.
“These two public releases were well received by the school and community,” she said.
With common goals among all stakeholders, there is an intense focus at Drought on maintaining high expectations and increasing student achievement, she said.
The small class sizes and enormous community buy-in are conducive to the attainment of these goals, she added.
“Leadership by the Drought school board and administration, hard work of teachers and students, as well as support from the parents are a formula for success at this close-knit school,” she said, adding: “Drought is clearly a unique school with amazing potential.”
• Washington-Caldwell School: 72, Meets Expectations.
Washington-Caldwell scored substantially higher than the average state scores in student achievement, student growth and on-track and post-secondary readiness, noted Superintendent Mark Pienkos.
The school’s grade missed the state’s “Exceeds Expectations” score by less than one point.
But the area where Washington-Caldwell scored lower than the state average is in the “Closing Gaps” area of the state report.
Teachers met last week during an in-service to discuss the scores and investigate ways to improve the school’s overall score, specifically the closing gaps area, he said.
“In particular, teachers discussed how to implement Common Core standards into their curriculum. This is important as we prepare our students not only for the Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Examinations standardized tests that begin in November, but also to get ready for the Smarter Balanced assessments scheduled to begin in the 2014-2015 school year,” Pienkos said.
“At Washington-Caldwell, we are always focused on ways to develop all areas of student development: scholastic achievement, as well as social/emotional development.,” he said, adding: “We also welcome any ideas or suggestions as to how to improve the educational program at Washington-Caldwell.”
Check out more
More information about the schools’ report cards, including individual report cards for each district and school, can be found on the Department of Public Instruction’s website at acct.dpi.wi.gov/acct_accountability.
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No Way….really? I thought the sky was falling now that teachers have to pay for a small portion of their health insurance and retirement and we are no longer subsidizing their union insurance company by paying $280,000 more a year than we needed to. I guess the liberal wingnut clowns were wrong again! Seems like we are doing exceedingly well after Act 10.
It is unfortunate to see that this is the first comment instead of commending the schools hard work, and TEACHERS continued support to educate their students regardless of all the political debate. How about praising those who actually do the work and put in hours of work to educate the children of the future to better the world for everyone? No one likes to see such a positive story for a community be turned into a place for people to slam their political agenda in peoples faces. The meaning behind this article is much larger than that and these results come from years of hard work by TEACHERS and STUDENTS years before ACT 10 was even a factor. Give credit to those who deserve it first because ultimately it was their hard work and determination not public policy that made these schools flourish.
No doubt there are hard working teachers who do a GREAT job, and WGSD is a top notch school district…again no doubt about it…BUT it was the teachers who were saying the sky would fall and education would take a hit. I am simply pointing out that that rhetoric was clearly far far from the truth!
Just remember your generalizing an entire group based on the actions of a few which creates an unfortunate stigma towards teachers. They have had to work under these types of generalizations and public scrutiny for years, and when they get commended for their hard work the initial thought should not be to reward a policy’s implementation. I am glad to see that you realize that these teachers do a great job I would just hope you would not think to generalize the entire group for the actions of a few.