The annual School Report Cards were recently released by the State of Oklahoma for the 2021-2022 school year. They are available for viewing at https://oklaschools.com/. Newcastle Public Schools’ report cards were among them.
Newcastle High School had an overall grade of C, while Newcastle Middle School had an overall grade of B. Newcastle Elementary School had an overall grade of B, but there was no data available for Newcastle Early Childhood Center.
“The grades for our elementary school and middle school have remained the same. The Early Childhood Center does not receive a grade because there are no tested grades at that site,” said Newcastle Superintendent Dr. Melonie Hau. “The only significant change to our A-F Report Card results since before the pandemic is our high school letter grade moving from a B to a C. This is a result of the State Department of Education choosing to include chronic absenteeism during a time when we are still feeling the results of COVID-19.”
Hau said Newcastle Schools does use this data to help inform us about students and their learning, but NPS relies most heavily on monitoring student progress throughout the year. The A-F data only provides a snapshot in time on a standardized assessment.
“For our teachers and staff, we want to know our students and the academic and social emotional challenges they face in real time,” Hau said. “We strive to meet these challenges and close learning gaps as quickly as possible. We rely on parents as partners to help us make sure all students are thriving, and when they are not, we work tirelessly to help students and families overcome challenges.”
According to the State of Oklahoma, The Oklahoma School Report Card shares critical information about school performance with schools, families and communities. The report cards are intended to provide important information to stimulate conversations about school successes and areas in need of improvement.
According to the oklaschools. com website, “The School Report Cards are intended to provide information so that those viewing the data are able “to understand a school’s successes and challenges from several perspectives.”
Furthermore, the website states, “Oklahoma’s school report cards are measured across multiple indicators, including academic achievement, academic growth, chronic absenteeism, progress in English language proficiency assessments, postsecondary opportunities, and graduation. Measured at different points, indicators work together to provide a snapshot of school performance. Each of these indicators receives a specific point value that translates to a letter grade.”
Along with the explanation is a qualifier that says, “At the core of the Oklahoma School Report Cards is the belief that all students can grow and all schools can improve. While no student report card tells the full story of a child, no school report card tells the full story of a school. Education is far more than a single score or letter grade, but it is important that families and communities can see both strengths and areas that need support and improvement.”
School Report Cards were not reported last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. They were continued for the 2021-2022 school year.
