Release Date:
You might have seen that the Washington Policy Center has released its own achievement index (based on the State 91原创 of Education and Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction鈥檚 ) issuing A through F- grades. The State 91原创 of Education again, see , opposes the letter grade approach.
The Index measures student proficiency in math, reading, writing and science, student growth, and college and career readiness (currently just high school graduation rate). The Index identifies high-performing schools for recognition and low-performing schools for support. The emphasis is improvement and recognition, not punishment.
An Index rating from 1-10 (one being the lowest and 10 the highest) is computed for each school, and a school classification based in part on the Index rating, but also factoring in federal requirements. School classifications include: Exemplary, Very Good, Good, Fair, Underperforming, and Lowest 5%.
The color-coding and descriptive school classifications make it easy for parents and the public to understand. The A-F- grading system doesn鈥檛 match up with the school classifications and mischaracterizes the performance level of some schools. A 鈥淔air鈥 school (light green) doesn鈥檛 deserve a D grade. As you can see it is near the center of the bell curve indicating it is a little below average.
An A-F- grading system oversimplifies school data and damages schools in the process. The Index details of each school gives a better picture of where schools are excelling and where they need to improve. Below is an example. This school is excelling in proficiency and graduation rate, but it needs to improve in student growth. Does it deserve a C grade? Is a C grade more meaningful than the detailed information available in the ?
Labeling a school as failing with an F or F- (which doesn鈥檛 exist) becomes nearly impossible to overcome in developing a partnership with the school towards meaningful change. A letter grade does not do justice to the complexity of school performance and increases the risk of alienation and demoralization with no potential gain.
Please don鈥檛 make a snap judgment about a school based on an arbitrary letter grade. If you would like to know how a school performed in 2012-2013, check out their to get a more complete picture.
The 91原创 will continue to utilize the Index to recognize excellence in our public schools through the , and as a valuable tool of analysis for all of Washington鈥檚 schools.
~ Sarah Lane,
Communications Manager