Greendale Schools Exceed State's Expectations in Report Cards

All five schools in the Greendale School District exceeded the state expectations as measured by new preliminary school report cards issued by the Wisconsin Department of Public instruction.

Grades were given on a 100-point maximum scale. Scores between 83-100 means a school significantly exceeds expectations; 73-82.9 exceeds expectations; 63-72.9 meets expectations and so on.

Under the new system, schools will be graded in these areas:

• Student achievement in reading and mathematics on state assessments.
• Student growth measured by year-to-year improvements in achievement.
• Closing gaps in performance between specific student groups.
• Progress to graduation/post secondary readiness using reliable predictors of high school graduation and post-secondary success.

The scores are also detailed in an 18-page report on each school. The DPI scoring uses last year’s data.

Schools are scored on four categories: student achievement, student growth, closing gaps and on-track and postsecondary readiness.

Here are the Greendale Schools grades:

• Canterbury Elementary School (75.7)
• College Park Elementary School (78.1)
• Highland View Elementary School (76.3)
• Greendale Middle School (75.9)
• Greendale High School (77.3)

The report cards will be issued each year as part of a new statewide accountability system that is designed to provide a more complete and balanced picture of school performance that can be used as a guide for school improvement. The accountability system is part of a package of educational reforms that also includes development of a new state achievement test, a new data system and new teacher evaluation methods. 

Kim Amidzich, Director of Assessment & Learning, said at Monday's school board meeting that the Greendale schools are underperforming in closing the gap compared to neighboring schools but will continue to work towards improvement.

"Some did better with growth, some thing better in achievement, some did better with closing the gap,"  Amidzich said.

Amidzich said they will focus on quality personalized instruction to maximize student learning. 

She also said a few schools reached the high level of significantly exceeded expectations. About 68 out the 2100 graded ones reached that level.