District report card shows mixed results: achievement up, growth down; virtual academy data limited

District staff presented the district’s state report card at the Nov. 19 board meeting, reporting an overall district score increase of 2.7 points and a 5.7-point rise in achievement compared with the prior year, while the growth metric fell by 3.8 points.

The district’s presentation said the changes reflect new state standard-setting and a shift to a two-year basis for comparable data. Staff noted the district’s third-grade reading proficiency is 54 percent, above the statewide average of 50 percent; staff described this figure as the percent scoring proficient or advanced on the Forward Exam in the spring.

Officials emphasized that the report card mixes multiple measures: achievement (proficiency), growth (value added), target-group results for students who were in the bottom 25 percent the prior year, chronic absenteeism and on-track-to-graduation indicators. The presentation said the district’s 'on track to graduation' measure increased 2.1 points.

The report also acknowledged reporting limitations for the district’s virtual academy. Staff said the virtual program enrolled about 316 students but only 49 students met the full-year criteria that count toward achievement and growth calculations because students must be enrolled by September and remain through the assessment window in April. That difference, staff said, contributes to volatility in the virtual school’s scores.

Board members asked about subgroup results, absenteeism and how the district uses targeted interventions. Staff said teams are examining which student groups drove growth declines and are designing interventions and vertical-alignment work across grade levels. The director of teaching and learning said the district is using DPI CSV files and targeted school-level diagnostics to identify students needing tiered supports.

The board received the presentation and offered praise for areas of improvement while directing staff to continue digging into low-growth cohorts and absenteeism drivers. Staff said the full report will be published publicly as required by state law.