|
| |
Oregon Report Cards
|
|
Each fall, Oregon releases three major reports on public
schools:
-
Oregon school report cards
-
Student achievement on state tests in reading, writing,
mathematics, and science
-
Federal Adequate Yearly Progress report required under
No Child Left Behind
Of the three reports, the school report cards offer the
most complete look at how schools are performing because they include a
more thorough review of school quality. Included in Oregon’s school report
cards is information on student test performance, school improvement, attendance,
dropout rates, class size, SAT scores, expulsions due to weapons, and teacher
education and experience.
If you would like more information about how the rating
are determine, the Oregon Department of Education has two documents available
to review:
Where to Find the Report Cards
The State of Oregon Department
of Education has posted the report cards at their Web site. You can
select a school or district report starting with the 2000 school year at:
The Oregonian (state's largest newspaper) at their
Web site has a online reference guide where visitors can search by a number
of variable to obtain test scores, federal ratings, school demographics,
staffing, and finances:
|
|
2008-2009 School Year Report Cards
|
|
 One
third of Oregon schools are "outstanding" based on their reading and math
scores, but one of every four high schools is "in need of improvement" because
of stubbornly low test scores or graduation rates, according to new report
cards the state issued on November 10, 2009.
Most schools, including eight of every 10 middle schools, are stuck in the
broad middle range, turning in a "satisfactory" performance, the report
cards say.
Oregon’s 2008-2009 School Report Card Ratings
-
34% of schools (399 out of 1171) were rated Outstanding
-
61% of schools (711 out of 1171) were rated Satisfactory
-
5% of schools (61 out of 1171) were rated In Need of
Improvement
117 schools were not rated due to their small size or being
open for less than two years.
Below are the schools in the Portland School District that
received an 'outstanding' rating:
-
Elementary: Abernethy, Ainsworth, Alameda, Buckman,
Capitol Hill, Chapman, Chief Joseph, Cleary, CM2 Opal, Duniway,
Emerson, Faubion, Forest Park, Glencoe, Laurelhurst, Lewis, Llewellyn,
Maplewood, Richmond, Rieke, Sabin, Sauvie Island, Skyline, Stephenson,
Sunnyside, Whitman, Winterhaven, Woodstock
-
Middle: Beaumont, da Vinci
-
High School: Franklin, Grant, Lincoln, Metropolitan
Learning Center
No Sanctions for Poor Performing Schools
The
61 schools
that are rated "needs improvement" won't face sanctions from the state.
A 2007 state law requires the Oregon Department of Education to impose "an
accountability system of progressive interventions" for such schools, but
that system is still being developed and won't roll out until next year's
report cards are issued.
For now, the only consequence a school faces for a poor report card is that
a copy of the report − including details of
why a school fell short − will be sent home
to parents next month. In contrast, under federal ratings, schools that
serve a large percentage of low-income students must offer their students
transfers or tutoring if they consistently fail to meet performance targets.
The Oregon Department of Education, which graded public schools using a
single method for 10 straight years, changed its approach this year. The
agency wanted to be more fair to schools and to put more emphasis on getting
historically low-achieving groups of students to catch up.
Among the biggest changes: There are three rating categories, down from
five; schools get credit for helping students show growth; and a school's
success or failure with its low-income, minority, special education and
limited English students counts twice as much as its results with traditionally
higher scoring groups.
Source: "Oregon schools
rated mainly 'satisfactory' on state report card" by Betsy Hammond.
The Oregonian. Tuesday November 10, 2009.
|
|
Oregon Report Card History
|
|
Oregon law (ORS 329.105) requires
that the Oregon Department of Education issue performance reports for public
schools. These performance reports shall include school ratings for:
Schools shall be rated as:
-
Outstanding
-
Satisfactory
-
Needs Improvement
Beginning in 2009, schools
will be divided into three categories: outstanding, satisfactory, or in
need of improvement.
History and Rules
Report cards are released in
the fall each year for the previous school year. Report cards are
issued for each Oregon school district as well as individual schools.
Oregon school report cards
were first issued in January 2000 with the rating formulas and rules remaining
largely unchanged during the first three years. Extensive revisions in the
formula were reflected in the report cards released in January 2003. Additional
changes in displays were incorporated for January 2004 to bring the report
card into compliance with requirements o f the No Child Left Behind Act.
Senate Bill 811 passed in July
2001 requires specific data elements to be displayed on school and district
report cards. The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 mandates additional data
elements and displays for school and district report cards produced by states.
Changes for 2009
In 2009, the state revamped its grading system for the
first time since Oregon began publishing report cards in 2000. It
now judges schools not just on how well students preformed, but on how much
they improved. For example, students who showed a significant gain from
the previous year − even those whose testing
still failed to meet state standards − now boost
their school's overall performance grade.
Schools that get a grade of unacceptable face no consequences
apart from having to send a copy of that report card home to every parent.
That will change when the state updates its grading system next year, however.
Beginning in 2009, schools will be divided into three categories:
outstanding, satisfactory or in need of improvement. Previously they used
five categories. Schools in the bottom category will face consequences
from the state that will escalate every year the school rates unsatisfactory.
Federal vs. State Report Cards
The annual Oregon school report
cards differ from the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) ratings. The state
judges schools on average student performances, while the federal rating
scrutinize individual groups such as limited English, minority, and special
education students. If one of those groups doesn't meet performance
targets, the school is downgraded.
Two Web sites for Information
About NCLB
-
For further information,
visit the US Department of Education's Web site at
No Child
Left Behind. The site includes a "Parents Guide", newsletter
subscription, etc.
-
Learning First,
an non-profit education organization, has published a
document that explains the law. This document is fairly easy
to read and understand.
|
|
All Lake Oswego Schools Rated Exceptional
|
|
For the first time in the Lake Oswego district’s history,
all of the 13 schools in the district earned a ranking of exceptional on
the State School Report Cards for the 2004-2005 school year. In 2006,
all the schools except Lake Oswego High School obtain the top rating
− Lake Oswego High School attained a "strong"
rating.
Exceptional is the highest ranking a school can earn. Other
than a few very small school districts, Lake Oswego is the only district
in the state to earn what is essentially a perfect score.
|
|
Portland Monthly Magazine Guide to Schools
|
|
 In
their December issue each year, the
Portland
Monthly magazine reports on over 600 schools in the metro area and make
what they referred to as a "crib sheet." The sheet gives school rankings,
test scores, and statistics that will help you evaluate the schools without
the need for in-depth study.
Included in the document are Advanced Placement (AP), International
Baccalaureate (IB) programs, average number of students per grade, and Oregon
Statewide Assessment (OSA), etc. They track 11 different variables.
|
|
