State grades local school districts

Each year, Ohio districts are graded on a five-star scale for overall improvement using data from state testing and other performance categories. The Ohio Department of Education brought back district report grades after suspending the practice for challenging circumstances in recent years, like the COVID-19 pandemic. But, results for the 2022-23 school year were released last week. The state looks at five categories for report card results and tracks attendance and workforce readiness. Districts also are compared to other districts by size and classroom spending. Overall ratings are measured in half-star increments. Tracking success The Ohio Department of Education reaches a district's overall ranking by reviewing four categories: • Achievement looks at whether a student's state testing performance met established thresholds and how well they performed overall. • Progress looks at the growth students are making based on past performances. • Gap closing measures the reduction in educational gaps for student subgroups. • Graduation measures the four-year and five-year graduation rates. • Early Literacy measures reading improvement and proficiency in children from kindergarten to third-grade. Report card ranks Out of the nine districts in Hancock County, four received a rating of 4.5 stars, two received 4 stars, one received 3.5 stars and two received 3 stars. • Findlay received an overall rating of 4.5 stars, 3 stars in achievement, 4 stars in progress, 5 stars in gap closing, 4 stars in graduation and 4 stars in early literacy. With 5,300 students enrolled throughout the 12 city schools, their attendance rate is 93% with a four-year graduation rate of 95%. • McComb received a 4-star rating with 3 stars in achievement, progress, gap closing and early literacy and 5 stars in graduation. The district has 595 students enrolled with a 94% attendance rate and 98% four-year graduation rate. • Vanlue earned a 3-star rating to meet state standards. They scored 3 stars in achievement, 1 star in progress, 4 stars in gap closing and five stars in graduation. They did not receive any stars for early literacy. Considering Vanlue Local Schools' 142 students, and the district has a 94% attendance rate and a 100% four-year graduation rate. • Arcadia exceeded state standards by receiving a 4-star overall rating. The district received four stars in achievement, 2 stars in progress, 5 stars in gap closing and graduation and 3 stars in early literacy. The 542 students enrolled have an attendance rate of 95% and graduate within four years 100% of the time. • Arlington earned a 4.5-star rating with 4 stars in achievement and gap closing; 3 stars in progress; and five stars in graduation and early literacy. Students enrolled in Arlington Local Schools, 561, attend 94% of the time and graduate within four years about 95% of the time. • Riverdale earned a 3-star rating overall, in achievement and in early literacy. They earned 4 stars in gap closing and graduation and 1 star in progress. The 955 students enrolled attend school 94% of the time and graduate within four years 91% of the time. • Van Buren garnered 4.5 stars overall with 5 stars in achievement and gap closing, 4 stars in achievement and early literacy and 3 stars in progress. The district has 1,019 students enrolled, an attendance rate of 95% and a graduation rate of 96%. • Cory-Rawson received 3.5 stars overall with 3 stars in achievement and progress, 4 stars in gap closing and graduation and 2 stars in early literacy. In the district, 477 students are enrolled with a 94% attendance and a 97% graduation rate. • Liberty-Benton earned a 4.5-star rating with 5 stars in achievement, gap closing, graduation and early literacy. They received 3 stars in progress. Liberty-Benton has 1,464 students enrolled, a 95% attendance rate and a 96% graduation rate. State ranks The state ranked 867 schools based on their state testing performances, also released last Thursday with the report cards. Students in most of the county's school districts had better standardized test scores than half of the state. Liberty-Benton students scored as the 71st school, followed by Arlington at 104, Van Buren at 107, Arcadia at 124, McComb at 341, Findlay at 359 and Riverdale at 418. Cory-Rawson scored at 461 and Vanlue at 514. Students start state standardized testing for English language arts, math and science in the third grade.