UPDATED 1:30p 11-17-16
Kenosha Unified has something to crow about--Racine Unified, not so much, following the release Thursday of Wisconsin Dept. of Public Instruction report cards.
Of the five major metropolitan districts in the state, KUSD scored the highest with a 71.6% rating, earning a 'meets expectations' rating. Of those five districts, RUSD scored the lowest at 48.1%, giving the system as a whole a 'fails to meet expectations' designation.
The state's ratings system--different than prior years--purportedly takes into account communities with high poverty by weighting the numbers to favor individual student growth.
According to the state report, Kenosha Unified had nine schools that "significantly" exceeded expectations with three schools on the opposite end of the spectrum. Those schools that failed to meet expectations were Bradford High School, Edward Bain Creative Arts and the district's e-school.
RUSD had 12 schools that either met or exceeded expectations, with 11 schools that fell beneath the threshold. Nine other schools fell in between, "meeting few expectations."
RUSD Superintendent Lolli Haws issued this statement, repeated here in its entirety: "This report card reflects last year's data and also the first results for the new state assessment. We know we have work to do And we're doing it. We have spent the last three years focused on improving our MAP scores, continuously increasing our graduation rate and transforming our high schools into the Academies of Racine. I'm confident in the future of this District.
Let's remember-one score does not tell the story of the excellent teaching and learning happening in our schools. We are also celebrating excellent report card results at many of our schools like Wadewitz Elementary, Jefferson Lighthouse, Walden III, Bull Fie Arts and others."
Kenosha Unified, meanwhile, was beaming. "The progress made on the state report cards is an indicator that student learning and achievement in Kenosha Unified is headed in the right direction," said Superintendent Sue Savaglio-Jarvis in a news release.
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