In the Newberg School District, we recognize that the state utilizes the Smarter Balanced assessment as the factor that determines if our students can demonstrate knowledge and skills around identified standards at each grade level.  No one in the Newberg School District is satisfied with the current Smarter Balanced performance data.   That said, our system has many indicators and factors it uses to determine how our students are performing and growing.   We have known that based on this assessment of the Oregon standards, our patterns of achievement and growth indicate achievement gaps for some of our student populations and underachievement in a number of areas. 

            While there are some unique factors that we experienced last year, like the weather, this data is not something new from the 2016-17 school year, but performance that we have been working on for the past three years.  Our three district priorities of All Means All, 21st Century Teaching and Learning, and Collective Responsibility for all students is aimed at directly improving outcomes for our students.  Over the past two years our educators have been a part of in-depth professional development around serving students of poverty, meeting the needs of English Language Learners, effectively teaching students in the 21st century, and addressing the increased academic rigor in the Common Core.  The district has also invested in Instructional Facilitators to support teachers in their skill development in meeting a student population with ever-expanding diverse needs.  

            In an effort to better address each school’s needs and improve student performance, six schools have had leadership changes in the last two years.  This was done to match school leader strengths to the needs of the school.  The district adopted new language arts curricula last year that provides content rich, rigorous English language arts curricula.  Finally, the district invested in a data dashboard system to provide leaders and educators the tools needed to analyze how students are doing, find patterns of achievement, and determine the success of educational programs. 

            While we have great room for improvement, we also have many indicators that our student performance is improving and we are successfully helping our students be college, career, and life ready.  We have entered into a partnership with George Fox and Providence Hospital to address the mental health needs of our student population.   Since 2013-14, Newberg High School's performance rating has gone from a level 2 to level 4 in student achievement and growth.  In 2016-17, our Advancement Via Individual Determination, or AVID program, successfully served more than 150 students at the secondary level.  This program helps many of our at-risk, underachieving students develop the scholarly skills and habits of mind they need to succeed and go on to college.  We have expanded career and technical education options for students at Newberg High School.  Since 2014, we have been transitioning to a 21st century teaching and learning model that provides 1:1 technology to students, thus eliminating opportunity gaps for students.  Last year, we helped students who were credit deficient earn back nearly 400 semester credits.  We reduced our drop-outs by 50% and we have increased our graduation rate by 12% since 2014. 

            In the Newberg School District, we are not shying away from our data and the work we need to do to help all students succeed.  We are looking at our patterns of achievement, asking hard questions, partnering with our community, collaborating on solutions, and engaging in work to improve our performance, thus the performance of our students.