The video welcoming students to Lakeview Elementary School pans through several teachers and students talking about the best parts of their school — “it’s a big family”, “it’s like a community”, “it makes me proud”.
The school is reputable in Indiana as one of five professional learning community schools in the state.HF
But last year, Lakeview’s school grade dropped two letter grades.HF
The 2015 grades were approved during the Jan. 26 State Board of Education board meeting and released to the public Tuesday. Many schools retained their 2014 scores and there was a small percentage of schools with higher grades.
From 2005 to 2007, Lakeview Elementary School was a C-grade school. In 2008, the score jumped to an A and stayed that way until 2014, when the grade dropped to a C again.HF
But Lakeview Principal John Hudson said he doesn’t believe the scores are completely accurate.HF
“I love that we have an A this year and I didn’t like having a C,” he said. “But I wouldn’t say the scores accurately measure the learning that takes place.”HF
The grades are part of a performance-based accountability system to measure how schools are doing.
In the early 2000s schools were placed into categories — exemplary progress, commendable progress, academic progress, academic watch and academic probation.HF
However, in 2011 the State Board moved to the A-F grading system. The grades are based on testing results from the Math and English ISTEPs. Growth, meaning how much individual students improve year-to-year, also plays a role in determining what grade a school will get.HF
Hudson attributes the C score to a year where student growth fell below normal.HF
“One year we didn’t show growth and scores didn’t go down dramatically,” Hudson said. “We were in the B range, but since we didn’t achieve high growth then you get points taken away from you.”HF
The system also works the other way around, which is what happened this year, Hudson said.HF
“Our teachers have done a fantastic job of drilling down with each student and working with their skill level,” Hudson said. “They’re bringing them from where they are to where they need to be and beyond.”HF
For the schools that didn’t see any change in grade, the score may not be an accurate representation.HF
The ISTEP test administered to students in 2015 was more rigorous than years past, and Gov. Mike Pence said he worried more schools would receive failing grades. Pence signed legislation into law last week that would not allow schools to get a lower grade than the previous year.
Only schools who improved would receive new grades.HF
“I don’t think that any one test can ever give you a true representation of how your students and how your teachers are doing,” Hudson said. “It’s just the game we have to play.”HF
Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz released a statement with the scores thanking Indiana families and stressing the reform needed in Indiana testing and accountability.HF
“I want to thank Indiana’s students, educators, and families for their hard work and patience during this challenging school year,” Ritz said.
“While I appreciate the work of the legislature to hold schools harmless for the results of last year’s ISTEP+ assessment, Indiana should move away from labeling Hoosier schools, and in turn Hoosier students, based on the results of a lengthy, pass/fail, high-stakes assessment.”HF
