OASD Exceeds Expectations in New State Report Cards

Oconomowoc Area School District Exceeds Expectations in
Newly Released State Report Cards

All schools Meet or Exceed Expectations 

OCONOMOWOC, WI – November 17, 2016.  The OASD received a four-star rating of “Exceeds Expectations” on the state’s 2015-16 school and district report cards.  Greenland Elementary earned a 5-star rating, and both Nature Hill Intermediate and Summit Elementary earned 4-star ratings. All eight schools in the district achieved an overall score of “Meets Expectations” or “Exceeds Expectation.”

The district continues to make strong gains in the areas of Student Growth and Closing Achievement Gaps. The district scored 85.1 out of a possible 100 points for Student Growth in English Language Arts and Mathematics, compared to the state average Student Growth score of 66.0. The district scored 67.2 out of a possible 100 points in Closing Gaps for English Language Arts Achievement Gaps, Mathematics Achievement Gaps, and Graduation Rate Gaps, compared to the state average Closing Gaps score of 60.8.  “Our Growth and Closing Gaps scores are huge points of pride for our district,” said Roger J. Rindo, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools.

Derick Kiger, Director of Research Technology and Assessment, added, “Our schools’ best report card performance was in the priority area of academic growth. We emphasize a growth mindset and continuous improvement of academic performance throughout our strategic plan. Our performance on multiple achievement measures is showing promising results.”

2015-16 Oconomowoc Area School District Report Cards Summary

*Silver Lake (75.1) and OHS (74.7) performance-based accountability scores = Exceeds Expectations. These two schools received reductions in their scores because of parent opt-outs from testing, and DPI did not make adjustments for opt-outs.

“While we are pleased with our district and school performance on report cards, it’s important to remember that this is just one measure of success. Report cards cannot measure all the important work happening in our district and in our schools every day,” said Rindo.

Student Achievement in the Oconomowoc Area School District

There are many bright spots in our district’s academic performance, including:

Measures of Academic Progress (MAP): District-wide performance on the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) continues to improve.  Fall 2016 results are in, and teachers are using this data to inform change and guide instruction in the classroom. Of note, 8th grade students scored in the 95th percentile in Math achievement, a performance that is 1.5 standard deviations above the mean. This level was achieved after one full year in College Preparatory Math as 7th graders last year.

ACT Performance:  Last year’s graduating class was the first in which every junior was required to take the ACT by the state.  Until last year, approximately 70% of our seniors took the ACT.  The composite for the graduating class was 21.5.  That grew by 0.5 from the time this class took the exam for the first time as juniors.  As students took the test for a second time, likely during their senior year, the score improved.  The top half of last year’s entire graduating class scored a 24 or higher on every ACT subtest and on the composite score.

Advanced Placement:  AP enrollment and performance continues to improve.  OHS offers 14 AP classes, and more students choose rigorous, college-level coursework each year.  The number of AP Scholars has increased as well. AP Scholars are recognized for earning a 3 or higher on at least 3 AP exams.  The table below shows a 300% increase in AP scholars at OHS over the past five years.

AP SCHOLARS AT OHS

“We are the fastest growing district in Southeastern Wisconsin, and people are choosing Oconomowoc for a reason,” said Rindo. “Our schools, the teachers and staff, and the many successful programs within them are a large part of that reason. Despite the academic gains of the past three years, we are not satisfied, and we will continue to strive for improvement.”