State DPI releases school report cards

By Robert Cloud

The Waupaca School District rated Exceeds Expectations, according to Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction’s district report card.

The DPI gave Waupaca schools an overall score of 74.5.

Waupaca High School earned a DPI score of 68.4, which rates Meets Expectations.

With a DPI score of 78.4, Waupaca Middle School rates Exceeds Expectations.

Waupaca Learning Center Meets Expectations with a score of 71.4.

There was no DPI report card for Chain O’ Lakes Elementary School because the scores are based, in part, on state math and English assessments that do not start until third grade.

Because it is a new school, Chain Exploration Center rated Satisfactory Progress in an alternative accountability process.

The DPI’s report card ratings range from five stars for schools or districts that Significantly Exceed Expectations to one star for those that Fail to Meet Expectations.

Overall, 96% of the state’s 421 public school districts either met or exceeded expectations.

According to the DPI, scores are calculated for student achievement, school growth, closing gaps between student groups and being on-track for postsecondary readiness.

“Report cards provide a snapshot of performance across the four priority areas and can be used to target improvements,” according to the DPI when it released the results in November.

This is the third year in a row the Waupaca School District rated Exceeds Expectations.

“I attribute it to the hard work the staff has invested in our professional development communities (PLC) that has taken place the last several years,” Saari said.

Teachers meet after early dismissals on Wednesday afternoons for PLC discussions.

They review the lessons to make sure they are aligned with state standards and document their learning targets.

“The PLC provides time for the teachers to get together in small groups and reflect on what’s working, what isn’t working and if things aren’t working, why they’re not working,” Saari said.

Saari said PLCs try to answer four basic questions:

• What do you want students to learn?

• How do you know if they learned it?

• What do you do next if they have learned it?

• What do you do with those who haven’t learned thse standards you intend them to learn?

Saari said the goal is to continually improve teaching practices and curriculum in order to improve student outcomes.