116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Iowa’s report card shows Cedar Rapids schools lagging
Proficiencies below statewide averages; 3 Title 1 schools listed as priority
Nov. 13, 2024 5:30 am, Updated: Nov. 13, 2024 10:12 am
The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
CEDAR RAPIDS — Three schools in the Cedar Rapids Community School District are listed among 35 of the Title 1 public schools that make up the lowest performing 5 percent of such schools in the state, according to a new Iowa schools report card.
Metro High School, Wilson Middle School and Johnson STEAM Academy — an elementary school in the Cedar Rapids district — are designated as Title 1 schools in need of comprehensive support and improvement by newly released Iowa School Performance Profiles for the 2023-24 school year.
Every three years, schools are identified that need to make “comprehensive” improvements. To be so designated, those schools have to score in the bottom 5 percent of schools that receive federal Title 1 dollars, or have a graduation rate below 67.1 percent. A Title 1 school is one that receives federal funding to support students from low-income families.
How do the ratings work?
Iowa’s school rating system changed this year under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act.
All schools now are assessed on core areas including proficiency in English Language Arts, mathematics, science, student academic growth and chronic absenteeism. High school ratings include two additional measures — graduation rates and a new postsecondary readiness indicator measuring college credit, work-based learning experiences and industry-recognized credentials attained by high schoolers.
Because of these changes, this year’s ratings are not directly comparable with those of previous years.
Rating categories include exceptional (highest performing), high performing, commendable, acceptable, needs improvement and priority/comprehensive (lowest performing).
Cedar Rapids district’s report card
Across the district, this is how Cedar Rapids schools performed compared with the statewide average:
- In English Language Arts, students were 63 percent proficient, compared with almost 73 percent across the state;
- Students were 59 percent proficient in math compared with the state average of almost 70 percent;
- Proficiency in science was almost 53 percent, compared with 61 percent across the state;
- Chronic absenteeism was at about 36 percent, compared with almost a 22 state average;
- The four-year graduation rate was about 77.5 percent, compared with the state average of about 87 percent;
- And student’s postsecondary readiness was almost 37 percent, compared with a state average of about 69 percent.
The Cedar Rapids district’s recent ratings include five schools rated as “commendable,” four as “acceptable,” eight needing “improvement” and 16 classified as ”priority“ — with three of those the Title 1 schools of Metro High, Wilson Middle and Johnson STEAM.
These ratings help school leaders identify focus areas, but do not fully reflect the commitment of staff or the district’s continuous improvement efforts, according to a news release from the district.
“While these ratings show where we need to grow, they also reinforce our commitment to student success,” Superintendent Tawana Grover said in a statement. “We’re focused on progress through new initiatives, like the science-backed (Amplify’s Core Knowledge Language Arts) literacy curriculum in our elementary schools, an updated science curriculum at our high schools and the College and Career Pathways program to prepare students for life after high school.”
“New state attendance laws will also support our efforts to reduce absenteeism. We are dedicated to positive strides for all students in Cedar Rapids,” Grover said.
Iowa City district’s report card
This is how the Iowa City Community School District performed on the report card:
- In English Language Arts, students were almost 73 percent proficient, which about matches the state average;
- Students were almost 68 percent proficient in math compared with the state average of almost 70 percent;
- Proficiency in science was almost 65 percent, compared with 61 percent across the state;
- Chronic absenteeism was almost 20 percent, compared with almost a 22 percent state average;
- The four-year graduation rate was about 92 percent, above the state average of about 87 percent;
- And student’s postsecondary readiness was almost 64 percent, compared with a state average of about 69 percent.
The Iowa City district’s recent ratings include five schools rated as “commendable,” seven as “acceptable,” 11 needing “improvement” and four classified as ”priority.“
Across Iowa
Sixteen schools across the state that previously were identified as needing comprehensive support and improvement exited those designations this year following their implementation of school improvement strategies, according to a news release Tuesday from the Iowa Department of Education.
There are 377 schools statewide in need of targeted support and improvement, based on the performance of and achievement gaps experienced by a group of their students, such as students who are eligible for free and reduced-price meals, English learners, students with disabilities or students by racial or ethnic groups. Of these, 106 are newly identified schools.
More than 93 percent, or 351 schools, were identified in need of targeted support and improvement because students with disabilities at their school performed below the level of schools in the lowest 5 percent.
Of those schools, 110 also were identified for other student groups in addition to students with disabilities, including 78 schools identified because of the achievement gaps experienced by students who are English language learners.
Fewer schools this year were identified in need of targeted support and improvement based on achievement gaps experienced by students from low-income backgrounds and students who are Black, African American, Hispanic or multiracial.
Comments: (319) 398-8411; grace.king@thegazette.com
Daily Newsletters