KALONA

On Tuesday, Nov. 12, the Iowa Department of Education released new state school performance ratings and federal designations, determined for the first time using the state’s new accountability system. The new system looks at proficiency in English language arts, mathematics, and science, in addition to academic growth, chronic absenteeism, graduation rates, and post-secondary readiness.

Our area schools covered the range in terms of overall ratings.

Rated highest was Lone Tree Elementary, which earned a ‘high performing’ rank, with students scoring 71% proficient in science, 80% proficient in English language arts, and 85% proficient in mathematics. These marks put the school in the top 12% of Iowa schools; looking at schools in Johnson, Washington, Louisa, and Muscatine counties, Lone Tree Elementary is in the top four of all schools in the area.

Lone Tree Middle/High did not rank as high, earning an ‘acceptable’ rating; while the school earned full points for the percentage of students who earned college credit while in high school, it earned none for students participating in work-based learning experiences. Proficiency scores also were lower, with 67% proficient in English language arts, 61% proficient in mathematics, and 48% proficient in science, which is below the state average (62%).

Ranking in the middle is the Highland school district. Highland Elementary rated ‘acceptable’; while it performed highly in terms of student attendance, only 33% of students scoring proficient in science brought it down. 50% of students scored proficient in English language arts, and 63% in mathematics.

Highland Middle rated ‘commendable’, as did the high school. A lack of chronic absenteeism, as well as high science proficiency – 83% -- boosted the middle school’s rating; students were 68% proficient in mathematics and 75% proficient in English language arts.

The high school’s strengths were it’s lack of chronic absenteeism and high graduation rate; a high number of students also earned college credits. Proficiency rates were 68% in math, 70% in science, and 76% in English language arts.

Mid-Prairie schools also spanned the range, with the Virtual Academy rating highest at ‘commendable.’ Both East and West Elementary schools were found ‘acceptable’ (although specific data was not available for East); 66% of students were proficient in English language arts and 73% in mathematics.

Mid-Prairie Middle School earned an ‘acceptable’ overall performance, their rating dropped one level thanks to being identified for Targeted status -- students with disabilities need additional support. While all students scored at the state average, students with disabilities scored 22.17 points below the state average. This achievement gap is noted in the report; students with disabilities were 15% proficient in mathematics, 18% proficient in English language arts, and 20% proficient in science. Overall, Middle School students were found 70% proficient in English language arts, 70% proficient in science, and 73% proficient in mathematics.

Mid-Prairie High School received a ‘needs improvement’ rating, the result of being penalized twice: once for earning Targeted status, and another for having at least one student group with less than a 95% participation rate on state assessments – students with disabilities (69 out of 73 students, 94.52% composite rate).

As with the middle school, a performance gap between all students and students with disabilities was identified. While all students performed 1.74 points above the state average, students with disabilities performed 33.79% below the state average. Overall, 55% of students scored proficient in science, 66% in mathematics, and 74% in English language arts. Only one of 29 students with disabilities scored proficient in English language arts, and one in mathematics; no students with disabilities, out of 10 assessed, scored proficient in science.

The high school’s strengths were a high 5-year graduation rate and percentage of students who earn college credit while in high school, as well as lack of chronic absenteeism.

Mid-Prairie is not alone in needing targeted support and improvement based on the performance of and achievement gaps experienced by their students with disabilities. The new Iowa School Performance Profiles for the 2023-2024 school year identified 351 schools in this group.

The Iowa School Performance Profiles, launched in 2018, meets state and federal requirements to publish report cards reflecting the performance of all public schools. For more information and detailed data, visit iaschoolperformance.gov.