State Releases School Report Card
Three PCSSD elementary schools improve letter grades.
(Little Rock, Ark.) -- The Arkansas Department of Education’s Division of Elementary and Secondary Education released the 2019 federal and state accountability reports for public schools. The reports include data from the 2018-2019 school year, including 2019 ACT Aspire results.
Results of both reports show positive movement in multiple areas for PCSSD, including three schools improving by one letter grade and two others less than 0.5 percent from an improved letter grade. Statewide, districts saw similar success with an 11 percent increase in schools that earned an A, and a 14 percent decrease in those earning an F.
In the 2018-2019 report card, Joe T. Robinson Elementary improved from a C to a B letter grade while Clinton Elementary and Oak Grove Elementary both improved from a D to a C letter grade. Sylvan Hills Middle School (0.15 point differential) and Harris Elementary (0.48 point differential) are less than 0.5 percent from moving up to a C letter grade next year. Baker Elementary and Chenal Elementary both maintained an A letter grade for 2018-2019 school year.
“We are so excited about the growth experienced in many of our schools in the Pulaski County Special School District,” said Alesia Smith, Deputy Superintendent for PCSSD. “We are making targeted and intentional efforts to move each of our schools as this year continues.”
Smith is part of a new leadership team in PCSSD that started in the 2018-2019 academic year. The goals for academic success were a top priority from day one and will continue to be paramount in 2019-2020.
“We are very proud that over 70% of schools experienced an increase in their index score,” Smith added. “We understand we still have work to do with our schools, but we believe that with a continual focus on AVID, small group instruction, PBIS, and curriculum alignment we will continue to see growth in our schools.”
The Every Student Succeeds Act School Index (federal accountability report) includes students’ weighted achievement and growth on state-required assessments for grades three through 10, as well as graduation rates and school quality and student success indicators. The School Rating (Accountability At-A-Glance) report provides each school’s rating or letter grade (state accountability) and a quick overview of the school’s overall ESSA School Index score and the score for each subgroup of students.