State Releases School Accountability Grades For 2017-18
November 14, 2018 at 6:11 p.m.
State Releases School Accountability Grades For 2017-18
By David [email protected]
The Indiana Department of Education released the 2017-18 grades today. “Roughly 22 percent of schools improved one or more letter grades, with nearly 9 percent improving their letter grade to an ‘A,’” the IDOE stated in a release. “Overall, close to 64 percent of schools received an ‘A’ or ‘B.’”
Only Warsaw Community School Corp. is appealing any of its grades. The school district is challenging the grades given to Leesburg Elementary School and Warsaw Community High School, which also means the overall grade for the school corporation is being appealed.
Warsaw Schools Superintendent Dr. David Hoffert explained why the corporation was appealing the two schools’ grades.
“There were a couple of students where we were only one or two students’ difference from a classification. So we’ve gone back and asked them to review the growth,” he said.
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ILEARN measures growth and achievement, he said, so they’ve asked for a review of any students that were borderline.
In 1999, the General Assembly passed Public Law 221-199, which created a performance-based accountability system. The State Board of Education (SBOE), IDOE and the Education Roundtable collaborated over the next two years to establish the administrative rules outlining the state’s accountability system. These rules were in place by the end of 2001. In 2015, SBOE established new metrics for Indiana’s student-centered accountability system. Current state metrics went into effect with the assessment of the 2015-16 school year.
Because of differences between federal and state accountability equations and standards, IDOE also released federal accountability grades for the 2017-18 school year. Several local schools received different grades from the state and federal equations and are noted in this story.
Differences in performance metrics between the two systems were the main factor for discrepancies for 33 percent of school letter grades, according to the release.
The Chicago Tribune reported in June that Indiana’s law focuses on student achievement and growth with standardized tests and annual improvements. The federal law takes into account factors such as attendance and English-language learning, and also requires certain low-performing schools to be marked as either needing targeted or comprehensive support.
The Indiana State Board of Education tried to revamp the state's system to fit the federal model but stopped after educators expressed concern.
Manchester
Manchester Community Schools’ state corporation grade was a “B” in 2016-17 and is a “B” for 2017-18.
All three Manchester schools earned a “B” in 2017-18. That’s down from an “A” in 2016-17 for the junior-senior high school but up from a “C” for the elementary. Manchester Intermediate School had a “B” for both years.
Tippecanoe Valley
Tippecanoe Valley Schools earned a “B” in 2017-18, the same as 2016-17, for its state corporation grade.
Akron Elementary kept a “C” both years, while Tippecanoe Valley High School kept an “A” in 2016-17 and 2017-18.
Mentone Elementary dropped from an “A” in 2016-17 to a “C” in 2017-18; while Tippecanoe Valley Middle School improved from a “D” in 2016-17 to a “B” in 2017-18. The federal grade for TVMS is listed as a “C” for 2017-18.
Triton
Triton School Corp. dropped from an “A” in 2016-17 to a “B” in 2017-18 for its state corporation grade.
Both of Triton’s schools – the elementary and the junior-senior high school – dropped their letter grades from an “A” in 2016-17 to a “B” in 2017-18.
Wawasee
Corporationwide, Wawasee Community Schools earned a “C” in 2017-18 and 2016-17 from the state.
North Webster Elementary School dropped from a “B” in 2016-17 to a “C” in 2017-18.
Wawasee Middle School went up from a “D” in 2016-17 to a “C” in 2017-18.
Milford School dropped from a “C” in 2016-17 to a “D” in 2017-18.
Syracuse Elementary School also dropped from a “C” in 2016-17 to a “D” in 2017-18.
Wawasee High School was a “B” for both years, though the federal grade result for 2017-18 is listed as a “C.”
Warsaw
Warsaw Community Schools has an appeal pending for its 2017-18 grade but earned a “B” in 2016-17 for its state corporation grade.
The school corporation has eight elementary schools. Claypool Elementary earned a “B” in 2016-17 and 2017-18; Eisenhower Elementary dropped from an “A” in 2016-17 to a “B” in 2017-18; Harrison Elementary earned a “C” both years. Jefferson dropped from a “B” in 2016-17 to a “C” in 2017-18; Lincoln Elementary kept an “A” both years, though the federal grade is listed as a “B.” Madison Elementary had the biggest drop, from a “B” in 2016-17 to a “D” in 2017-18. Washington kept a “B” both years.
An appeal is pending for Leesburg Elementary’s and Warsaw Community High School’s 2017-18 grades, but both earned “B’s” in 2016-17. Under their federal grade results, both schools are listed as having “C’s.”
Lakeview Middle School earned a “D” in 2016-17 but a “C” in 2017-18. Warsaw’s other middle school, Edgewood, also increased its letter grade, from a “C” in 2016-17 to a “B” in 2017-18.
Whitko
Whitko Community Schools’ state corporation letter grade remained unchanged, earning a “C” in 2017-18 and 2016-17.
Pierceton Elementary kept a “D” in 2016-17 and 2017-18, while Whitko Middle School dropped from a “C” in 2016-17 to a “D” in 2017-18.
South Whitley Elementary School improved from a “C”?in 2016-17 to a “B” in 2017-18, while Whitko High School maintained an “A” for both years. The federal grade for the elementary is listed as a “C” for 2017-18, while the high school’s is listed as a “B.”
Private Schools
Lakeland Christian Academy improved from a “D” in 2016-17 to a “C” in 2017-18.
Sacred Heart School has maintained a “B” in 2016-17 and 2017-18.
Warsaw Christian School has maintained an “A” in 2016-17 and 2017-18.
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The Indiana Department of Education released the 2017-18 grades today. “Roughly 22 percent of schools improved one or more letter grades, with nearly 9 percent improving their letter grade to an ‘A,’” the IDOE stated in a release. “Overall, close to 64 percent of schools received an ‘A’ or ‘B.’”
Only Warsaw Community School Corp. is appealing any of its grades. The school district is challenging the grades given to Leesburg Elementary School and Warsaw Community High School, which also means the overall grade for the school corporation is being appealed.
Warsaw Schools Superintendent Dr. David Hoffert explained why the corporation was appealing the two schools’ grades.
“There were a couple of students where we were only one or two students’ difference from a classification. So we’ve gone back and asked them to review the growth,” he said.
[[In-content Ad]]
ILEARN measures growth and achievement, he said, so they’ve asked for a review of any students that were borderline.
In 1999, the General Assembly passed Public Law 221-199, which created a performance-based accountability system. The State Board of Education (SBOE), IDOE and the Education Roundtable collaborated over the next two years to establish the administrative rules outlining the state’s accountability system. These rules were in place by the end of 2001. In 2015, SBOE established new metrics for Indiana’s student-centered accountability system. Current state metrics went into effect with the assessment of the 2015-16 school year.
Because of differences between federal and state accountability equations and standards, IDOE also released federal accountability grades for the 2017-18 school year. Several local schools received different grades from the state and federal equations and are noted in this story.
Differences in performance metrics between the two systems were the main factor for discrepancies for 33 percent of school letter grades, according to the release.
The Chicago Tribune reported in June that Indiana’s law focuses on student achievement and growth with standardized tests and annual improvements. The federal law takes into account factors such as attendance and English-language learning, and also requires certain low-performing schools to be marked as either needing targeted or comprehensive support.
The Indiana State Board of Education tried to revamp the state's system to fit the federal model but stopped after educators expressed concern.
Manchester
Manchester Community Schools’ state corporation grade was a “B” in 2016-17 and is a “B” for 2017-18.
All three Manchester schools earned a “B” in 2017-18. That’s down from an “A” in 2016-17 for the junior-senior high school but up from a “C” for the elementary. Manchester Intermediate School had a “B” for both years.
Tippecanoe Valley
Tippecanoe Valley Schools earned a “B” in 2017-18, the same as 2016-17, for its state corporation grade.
Akron Elementary kept a “C” both years, while Tippecanoe Valley High School kept an “A” in 2016-17 and 2017-18.
Mentone Elementary dropped from an “A” in 2016-17 to a “C” in 2017-18; while Tippecanoe Valley Middle School improved from a “D” in 2016-17 to a “B” in 2017-18. The federal grade for TVMS is listed as a “C” for 2017-18.
Triton
Triton School Corp. dropped from an “A” in 2016-17 to a “B” in 2017-18 for its state corporation grade.
Both of Triton’s schools – the elementary and the junior-senior high school – dropped their letter grades from an “A” in 2016-17 to a “B” in 2017-18.
Wawasee
Corporationwide, Wawasee Community Schools earned a “C” in 2017-18 and 2016-17 from the state.
North Webster Elementary School dropped from a “B” in 2016-17 to a “C” in 2017-18.
Wawasee Middle School went up from a “D” in 2016-17 to a “C” in 2017-18.
Milford School dropped from a “C” in 2016-17 to a “D” in 2017-18.
Syracuse Elementary School also dropped from a “C” in 2016-17 to a “D” in 2017-18.
Wawasee High School was a “B” for both years, though the federal grade result for 2017-18 is listed as a “C.”
Warsaw
Warsaw Community Schools has an appeal pending for its 2017-18 grade but earned a “B” in 2016-17 for its state corporation grade.
The school corporation has eight elementary schools. Claypool Elementary earned a “B” in 2016-17 and 2017-18; Eisenhower Elementary dropped from an “A” in 2016-17 to a “B” in 2017-18; Harrison Elementary earned a “C” both years. Jefferson dropped from a “B” in 2016-17 to a “C” in 2017-18; Lincoln Elementary kept an “A” both years, though the federal grade is listed as a “B.” Madison Elementary had the biggest drop, from a “B” in 2016-17 to a “D” in 2017-18. Washington kept a “B” both years.
An appeal is pending for Leesburg Elementary’s and Warsaw Community High School’s 2017-18 grades, but both earned “B’s” in 2016-17. Under their federal grade results, both schools are listed as having “C’s.”
Lakeview Middle School earned a “D” in 2016-17 but a “C” in 2017-18. Warsaw’s other middle school, Edgewood, also increased its letter grade, from a “C” in 2016-17 to a “B” in 2017-18.
Whitko
Whitko Community Schools’ state corporation letter grade remained unchanged, earning a “C” in 2017-18 and 2016-17.
Pierceton Elementary kept a “D” in 2016-17 and 2017-18, while Whitko Middle School dropped from a “C” in 2016-17 to a “D” in 2017-18.
South Whitley Elementary School improved from a “C”?in 2016-17 to a “B” in 2017-18, while Whitko High School maintained an “A” for both years. The federal grade for the elementary is listed as a “C” for 2017-18, while the high school’s is listed as a “B.”
Private Schools
Lakeland Christian Academy improved from a “D” in 2016-17 to a “C” in 2017-18.
Sacred Heart School has maintained a “B” in 2016-17 and 2017-18.
Warsaw Christian School has maintained an “A” in 2016-17 and 2017-18.
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