Superintendents Message 8/26/2011

Patrick Dubbs

For the 8^th consecutive year, Wayne Local has been rated “excellent” by the Ohio Department of Education.

Ohio report cards use multiple measures to determine each district and school’s designation.  The report card is designed as a tool for comparative and summary analysis between schools and districts.  Overall State Superintendent Stan Heffner stated, “Ohio’s schools are improving and are on the move.  Those gains are the result of teachers getting better at working with content standards and forming stronger relationships with students.”  Wayne Local students consistently exceed the results of similar districts and statewide percentages.

Q – How do you read the 2010/11 report card?

1.     State Standards:  Districts are measured against 26 standards – “proficiency” rates on 24 state tests, plus attendance and graduation rates.  Wayne Local was a perfect 26 out of 26 on State Standards.

2.     Performance Index:  The performance index score tells more than whether students passed the tests or not.  The index gives credit for how well all students score on the tests.  Of all the report card elements I put the most stock on the performance index.  The index gives us a comparative number that can rank order school districts.  Over the last five (5) years at Wayne Local we have increased our performance index from 102.8 in 2006-07 to 106.4 in 2010-11.  This year’s score was the 10^th best in the Butler, Clermont, Hamilton, and Warren Counties region.  The high school had the 24^th highest performance index in the state.  The middle school and elementary also had outstanding years.  Combined Wayne Local is in the top 8% of all school districts in the state of Ohio.

3.     Value-added:  The value-added component is for districts and schools other than high schools.  A “value added” measure shows whether 4^th through 8^th grade students have made a year’s worth of calculated progress.  Exceeding a year’s worth of expected growth is why some districts receive the bonus “distinction.” When a school district has many superior students already performing at a high level it is extremely difficult to exceed the value-added criteria.  Five of the top 11 performance index districts in the state did not receive “distinction” value-added criteria on this grade card.

4.     Federal Measure:  The No Child Left Behind Act requires districts to show “adequate yearly progress” (AYP) on reading and math tests for all students, plus 9 different subgroups if a large enough population of those students exist in a school district.  Over the last 5 years Wayne Local has shown improvement in this area and once again “met” AYP for 2010/11.

All of Warren County consistently has some of the best schools in the region.  Our students at Wayne Local are receiving an outstanding education.  How do we do it?  There is no magical formula or shortcuts.  First we align with state standards and then emphasize scientifically supported instructional practices.  We pay very close attention to the environment/climate of our school district.  Finally professional development is strategically designed around ongoing analysis of our academic data.

We are truly blessed to have great students, a talented staff, and the support of our parents and community.  There is much to celebrate regarding our 2011 report card but we must also focus on the future as we continue to raise expectations to achieve even more.

Congratulations Wayne Local Schools.

Pat Dubbs

Superintendent of Schools

Links to District and Building Grade Cards:

District Report Card 

http://www.ode.state.oh.us/reportcardfiles/2010-2011/DIST/050468.pdf

High School Report Card 

http://www.ode.state.oh.us/reportcardfiles/2010-2011/BUILD/040055.pdf

Middle School Report Card

http://www.ode.state.oh.us/reportcardfiles/2010-2011/BUILD/061614.pdf

Elementary Report Card

http://www.ode.state.oh.us/reportcardfiles/2010-2011/BUILD/039925.pdf