By Ben Rodgers
Editor

SUAMICO – The Howard-Suamico School District meets expectations, according to its recent district wide report card from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

The district scored a 72 out of 100, which is worth three out of five stars.

Across Wisconsin, 83.7 percent of districts met or exceeded expectations, with 96.4 percent of the state’s public schools reaching that mark.

This is the third year that report cards used legislatively-mandated calculations to gauge district performance.

Report card ratings range from five stars, denoting schools and districts that significantly exceed expectations, to one star for those that fail to meet expectations.

Scores are calculated in four priority areas: student achievement, school growth, closing gaps between student groups, and measures of postsecondary readiness, which includes graduation and attendance rates, third-grade English language arts achievement, and eighth-grade mathematics achievement.

Student achievement is broken down to English and math achievement, school growth tracks English and math growth and closing gaps looks at English, math and graduation achievement gaps.

HSSD scored a 72.5 for student achievement, compared to the state average of 63.

It scored a 49 for district growth, compared to the state average of 66.

For closing gaps, the district notched a 65.9, compared to the state average of 67.9.

Finally, for on-track and postsecondary readiness the district scored 88.1, compared to the state average of 85.

“We are pleased the district meets this measure as defined by the state report cards,” said Dr. Becky Walker, assistant superintendent of academics and innovation, in a press release. “We are committed to continuous growth in learning for all students and we look forward to analyzing our data and trends.”

The HSSD and its school board are currently looking at a new assessment that would better gauge students’ skills in different areas of 21st century learning.

This assessment would coincide with students who are a self-starter, critical thinker, collaborator, communicator, adaptable, responsible and a solutionist, which makes up the district’s new profile of a graduate.

“When we standardized everything and we don’t personalize it, and everybody has to do everything the same way and get the same results from it, we don’t really capitalize on people’s strengths,” Walker said at the Nov. 5 school board meeting.

Specifically in the district, Bay Harbor Elementary met few expectations, Bay Port High School, Lineville Intermediate and Bay View Middle School met expectations, Forest Glen Elementary, Howard Elementary exceeded expectations, and Meadowbrook Elementary and Suamico Elementary significantly exceeded expectations.

In total, 105 districts in Wisconsin achieved the three-star rating.

To view the report cards and a more detailed breakdown of each school, visit dpi.wi.gov/accountability/report-cards.