The Oregon Department of Education released report cards on how schools
are performing earlier this year, featuring a new design spurred by feedback
from a committee and other stakeholders.

Welches Elementary and Middle Schools each earned a level 4 overall with a
72.5 and 71.7 weighted percent, respectively, putting them about average in
the state. Sandy High School earned a level 2, with a 61 weighted percent,
below average in the state. The high school’s weighted percent would
normally earn a level 3, but the level dropped by one due to a failed
participation target in one subgroup.

Levels are based on a points system that takes 25 percent of students who
meet or exceed state standards in reading and math, 25 percent on student
growth (percentage of students in grades four through 11 who improve their
scores from the previous year) and 50 percent from disadvantaged student
growth (including special education, ethnicity groups and more). Previously,
under No Child Left Behind, the system was based on the percentage of
students who met or exceeded the state standards.

Oregon Trail School District’s Director of Teaching and Learning Debbie
Johnson noted the reports are one piece of the larger puzzle when it comes to
assessing students, highlighting that 82 percent of students are meeting or
exceeding standards for reading while the graduation rate increased by 11
percent over the previous year.

“We have to remember that state wide testing is a ‘snapshot’ of student
achievement and doesn’t tell the whole story,” Johnson wrote in an email to
the Mountain Times. “It is important for parents to know how their child is
doing compared to what the standards are for the grade level their child is in.
Every grade level counts as a child moves up towards graduation.”

Johnson also noted that due to the district’s recent transition to align with
Common Core State Standards, the types of math taught at certain grade
levels changed in anticipation of a new standard test next year.

“So, students are learning concepts based on the mapping inside of Common
Core while being tested on the old math standard map,” Johnson noted. “This
means, for the most part, impacts on math scores.”

Johnson added that the district is working to improve teaching in the district,
including a focus on professional development for teachers, such as a
mentoring program for teachers and administrators in their first two years,
and intervention in reading and math for middle school students who are not
at grade level. She credited Kendra Payne, principal at the Welches schools,
for the performance of the two mountain schools.

“The principal and staff are working hard to meet the needs of students while
increasing the rigor of instruction and expectations,” Johnson wrote. “Through
focused professional development during their early release Wednesday,
Kendra is addressing the needs of staff and leading them to improved
outcomes.”

For more information, visit www.ode.state.or.us.