New report cards focus on growth, outcomes

Newberg Oregon School District

Edwards and Ewing Young elementary schools are in the top 10% of the state’s schools according to new school report cards released by the Oregon Department of Education this morning. Edwards was also named a model school - a high poverty school identified as an example of successful student outcomes.

The newly redesigned state report cards for Oregon’s K-12 schools and districts provide a critical look at how local schools are performing.  The report cards reflect a new accountability system that uses multiple measures to rate schools with a much greater focus on student learning and growth. 

Today’s release represents the largest redesign since Oregon first released school report cards in 2000. The new school and district report cards include:

  • A letter from the principal or superintendent
  • An enhanced school or district profile with demographic charts
  • Two overall ratings – one which compares the school to all others in the state; one which compares the school to other schools with similar student demographics
  • Student performance over time
  • Outcomes by student group
  • Information on the curriculum and learning environment
  • High school data includes graduation, completion and dropout rates, percent of freshmen on track to graduate, and percent of students going on to college

 

How Schools Are Rated
A new rating system gives schools an overall rating based on a number of factors.

High schools measures include academic achievement, academic growth, subgroup growth, graduation rates, and subgroup graduation. High school ratings are based 50 percent on graduation rates, 30 percent on student gains and just 20 percent on how many students pass state tests.

Elementary and middle schools measure academic achievement, academic growth and subgroup growth. Elementary and middle school ratings are based 75 percent on student gains on state tests and 25 percent on passing rates.

Schools receive an overall rating of Level 1 through 5 based on how well they are doing in each of these areas.  Level 1 schools represent the bottom 5% of schools. Level 2 schools represent the next lowest 10%.  Level 3 makes up approximately the next 30% of schools.  Level 4 represents the largest share of schools, those that fall between 44% and 90% of schools.  Level 5 represents the top 10%.

In Newberg, Edwards Elementary and Ewing Young Elementary were rated Level 5.  Antonia Crater, Dundee, Joan Austin and Mabel Rush elementary schools, and Chehalem Valley and Mountain View middle schools all received a Level 4 rating. Newberg High School is rated Level 3.

Schools also receive a rating that compares them to “like” schools - other schools with similar student demographics including percent poverty, mobility, students of color, and English learners.  Schools are rated as below average, about average, or above average as compared to similar schools.