Indiana Department of Education released its school accountability grades Tuesday for 2016. The grades are released annually. The IDOE judges schools on their performance and growth. The criteria for elementary and middle schools is based only on the ISTEP state assesment exam, according to Samantha Hart, public information officer, IDOE. For high schools, a category called college and career readiness is added and judged with the ISTEP results. This is the first year new criteria was used for grading schools, Hart said. This year the department graded half on performance and half on improvement. ““I want to thank Indiana’s students, educators and families for their countless hours of work over the last academic year. This year, Indiana implemented a new student-centered school accountability system utilizing Indiana’s new, more rigorous standards and assessments for the first time. For those reasons, the 2015-16 school year establishes a new baseline for school accountability grades in Indiana. Moving forward, the Department of Education will continue to support students, educators and schools with the important work of school improvement,” said Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz in a statement. Three area schools received an “A” – Sacred Heart School, Warsaw Christian School and Lincoln Elementary. “The entire Sacred Heart family is extremely proud of the school for accomplishing this outstanding achievement. The students are excited to continue the history of academic excellence at Sacred Heart School,” said Jim Faroh, Sacred Heart principal. Lakeland Christian Academy was the only area school to get an “F.” The rest of the grades are as follows: Manchester Community Schools: • Manchester Elementary, B • Manchester Intermediate School, B • Manchester High School, B Tippecanoe Valley Community Schools: • Akron Elementary, C • Tippecanoe Valley Middle School, C • Mentone Elementary, B • Tippecanoe Valley High?School, B Triton Community Schools: • Triton Elementary School, B • Triton Jr.-Sr. High School, B Warsaw Community Schools: • Claypool Elementary School, B • Lakeview Middle School,?D • Eisenhower Elementary School, B • Edgewood Middle School, B • Harrison Elementary School, B • Leesburg Elementary, B • Lincoln Elementary, A • Jefferson?Elementary, B • Madison?Elementary, C • Washington Elementary, B • Warsaw Community High School, B. Wawasee Community Schools: • Milford School, C • North Webster Elementary School, C • Syracuse Elementary School, C • Wawasee Middle School, C • Wawasee High School, C Whitko Community Schools: • South Whitley Elementary, B • Pierceton Elementary, C • Whitko Middle School, C • Whitko High School, B
