AYP

AYP stands for "Adequate Yearly Progress" and is based on reading and math state assessment scores, attendance rate, and graduation rate. Last year our students did a fantastic job. All three buildings made AYP with 14 areas of Standard of Excellence. In fact, our assessment scores continue to rise every year. Our 7th grade class actually had 100% of the students meeting or exceeding standard.

On the other hand, the district as a whole did not make AYP. This is due to "Subgroups". Once you have 30 students in a sub group such as Special Education, At-Risk, Ethnicity,or English Language Learners, they become a reportable group. Our subgroup is special education. Last year we missed the cut score by fractions.

What does this really mean to us? We are now a district "On-Watch". This is defined as a district who will be working toward improvements of strategies to work with students in the subgroup. We will be developing a plan of action with a focus of improving the educational strategies for our subgroup.

With all of this said, in a conversation with a patron I was asked,"Mr. Orth, you have been in a few different districts. How do you rate what we do here vs other districts you have been in?" My answer was simple, "this is the first district I have worked in that I would not hesitate to have my own children and grandchildren attend". We have a great staff who really cares about students. These staff members will go out of their way to find strategies for individual student needs.

Like all schools in the nation, we always have room to grow and improve. We will be studying ways to improve and develop a plan of action to make a clear focus for the future.