Weyauwega-Fremont strives to improve scores
By Angie Landsverk
Each 2018-19 report card for the Weyauwega-Fremont School District is either equal to or higher than it was a year ago.
The district received a district report card score of 73.2 for the 2018-19 school year.
That score put it in the Exceeds Expectations category and compares to the 2017-18 district score of 76.8, which was in the same category.
The Exceeds Expectations category includes scores of 73 to 82.9.
“Our goal is to make the whole district a Significantly Exceeds district, to make it a destination district for all the kids in the area,” said District Administrator Phillip Tubbs.
The report cards were released to the public last month and are based on four priorities: student achievement, school growth, closing gaps and on-track and postsecondary readiness.
They provide a snapshot of performance across those four areas and may be used to target improvement efforts.
Two W-F school in top caterory
Two of the district’s schools received school report card scores that fell in the Significantly Exceeds Expectations category, Tubbs said.
That category includes scores of 83 to 100.
Fremont Elementary and W-F Middle School both fell in that category with scores of 89.3 and 85 respectively for the 2018-19 school year.
For the 2017-18 school year, Fremont Elementary’s score was 91.6.
The middle school’s score that school year was 78.7, which was in the Exceeds Expectations category.
“The staff took time throughout the past school year to see where there were gaps in instruction and make sure the curriculum and instruction were where it needs to be,” said Jodi Alix, the district’s middle and high school principal.
She said the staff honed in on interventions for students who were struggling and built on areas of growth for high-achieving students.
“Students continue to learn something new every day,” Alix said.
Higher score for high school
Tubbs also noted the jump in the high school report card score.
Its 2018-19 score was 68.9, putting it in the Meets Expectations category.
That category includes scores of 63 to 72.9.
The school’s 2017-18 score was 61.9, which was in the Meets Few Expectations category.
“Last year and this year, the focus is on bringing math up with math coaches and the staff being willing to be open to new practices,” Alix said.
The district contracts with CESA 6 to bring math coaches into the district about once a month.
Elementary Principal Doug Nowak said elementary teachers use their experiences with the math coaches in other subject areas as well.
Weyauwega Elementary’s report card score fell slightly from 71.2 in the 2017-18 school year to 68.3 in the 2018-19 school year, but remaining in the Meets Expectations category.
“We’re thrilled we continue to meet and significantly exceed expectations the state puts forward,” Nowak said. “It’s a tribute to the teachers.”
He believes the whole child is being addressed throughout the district.
At the high school level, the Extended Learning Time at the end of the school day also ensures students are learning and mastering material, Alix said.
They can request to see a teacher for additional guidance or to be reassessed, she said.
It can also be an enrichment time for students, Alix said.
Also noted was the new energy for learning being seen at the high school, following the additions and renovations there.
She said students understood the investment being made in the school and how its their turn to invest as well.
“In each category, the high school and middle school numbers are higher when you’re looking at gaps,” Tubbs said. “There’s always room for improvement, but we like seeing the growth and the high school going up, especially when it’s above the state.”