District Officials Respond to CHUH Report Card

Cleveland Heights-University Heights City Schools received good news and bad news on . 

The Good News:

• Roxboro Elementary School received the highest rating possible from the state — "Excellent with Distinction." It is the only building in the district to receive an "Excellent" designation. 
• Three schools were ranked "Effective" this year compared to one last year. 
• The district improved its performance index score, moving from 86.9 to 87.3 out of 120 possible points.
• Cleveland Heights High School moved up from the “Continuous Improvement” rating to “Effective.” It met 10 of 12 standards this year.

The Bad News:

• Monticello Middle School stayed in the "Academic Watch" category, and Canterbury Elementary School declined to an "Academic Watch" ranking. 
• The district met 10 out of 26 state indicators, one less than last year.
• Three buildings declined in performance — Roxboro Middle School, Oxford Elementary School and Canterbury Elementary School. 

CHUH Schools Superintendent Douglas Heuer responded to the news Wednesday afternoon. 

"Prior to this year the district had, at most, two buildings rated as high as 'Effective.' This year the district had three buildings rated 'Effective' and one rated 'Excellent with Distinction.' That is a very positive indicator of improvement," Heuer said by email. "Unfortunately, three buildings out of 12 experienced a decline in performance ... The net result is one less district standard met. However, there was also an increase in the district’s test performance index."

CHUH School Board President Eric Coble noted the significance that three schools were ranked "Effective" this year, and said the school district is on the right track. 

"The high school barely missed being ranked 'Excellent.' Everyone — myself included — wants us to move faster, but we're making good strides," Coble said by email. "Wiley was in 'Academic Emergency' two years ago and jumped two ranks to 'Effective.' We're taking what has worked so well there into Rox (Roxboro Middle School) and Monticello." 

Heuer provided some changes they are making in the district to try and improve next year's performance. and will have new principals next year, he said, and several teachers to focus on literacy for first- through third-graders and other factors. 

"We have redirected resources (including staffing) to support changes in the primary grades’ reading program to assure that all students will be reading at or above ," he said. "We have to create more supports for freshman (grade with the highest rate of failures) … Monticello and Roxboro Middle Schools will start the second year of block scheduling this year. Wiley, in its second year of the block program last year, improved significantly. The same is expected at both Monticello and Roxboro Middle this year."

Heuer expressed his pride in Roxboro Elementary School's rank.   

"Roxboro Elementary School achieving the rating of 'Excellent with Distinction' is a landmark for the district. It establishes a standard which raises the expectations of achievement for every school in the district," Heuer said. "They are the first, but they are the first of many of our schools that will achieve this honor."