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Jonathan Alder rated Excellent
(by Kristy Zurbrick, Madison Editor - September 01, 2010)
Jonathan Alder Local Schools received an “Excellent” rating on the 2009-10 state report card from the Ohio Department of Education.
Last year, the district earned a designation of “Excellent with Distinction.”
“We’re always pleased when we get an Excellent or above. This makes five years in a row for us,” said Superintendent Doug Carpenter. “It represents a lot of people putting in a lot of hard work.”
Jonathan Alder met all 26 of the state indicators, which means at least 75 percent of the district’s students scored proficient or higher on state tests, at least 85 percent of 11th graders scored proficient or higher on the Ohio graduation test, attendance rates for all grades exceeded 93 percent, and the previous year’s graduation rate was over 90 percent.
The district also improved its performance index score from 100.9 to 102.5 out of a possible 120 points. Performance index is a weighted average, with the greatest weight going to advanced test scores.
Last year, Jonathan Alder did not meet federal adequate yearly progress (AYP) standards. This year, the district did. AYP is based on testing, attendance and graduation goals for different student groups based on economic status, ethnicity, disabilities and English proficiency.
The only area of the state report card in which Jonathan Alder dipped a little was the value-added portion. Last year, the district was rated “above,” which means students showed more than a year’s worth of progress. This year, the district “met” the criteria, which means students showed a year’s worth of progress.
Individual school results
Two schools in the district were named “Excellent” again this year: Plain City Elementary and Jonathan Alder High School. Canaan Middle School went from “Excellent with Distinction” to “Excellent.” Jonathan Alder Junior High moved up from “Effective” to “Excellent.” Monroe Elementary remained at “Effective.”
As for the key to the district’s overall success, Carpenter said the staff considers not just state report card results but also growth data and value-added data from Battelle before deciding if any hot-button issues need to be addressed.
“We also try not to overreact to short-term data. It’s all about looking for patterns first,” he said.
For example, last year the district completely changed its approach to reading instruction based on data from previous years. They’ll try the new approach for about three years before passing judgment on its effectiveness, Carpenter said.
“We try really hard to look at it all in the big picture,” he said.
To see Jonathan Alder’s complete state report card, visit the Ohio Department of Education Web site at www.ode.state.oh.us.
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