Muskego Schools Smile at Report Card

Muskego-Norway Schools have received their new report cards from the state Department of Public Instruction (DPI), and by all accounts have fared well under the new scoring system.

The report cards were issued to all Wisconsin public schools for the first time last week as one component of the state's school accountability system aimed at raising academic expectations. The accountability system allowed Wisconsin to earn a waiver from meeting certain 2014 requirements of No Child Left Behind.

Schools received scores using a 0 to 100 scale, corresponding with five categories starting at "fails to meet expectations" and topping out with "significantly exceeds expectations."

Tammy Gibbons, Director of School Performance at Muskego-Norway, stressed during the district's annual budget meeting Monday night that people should not read the numbers as a "percent correct score - these numbers aren't built on a 100 percent scale."

The report cards grade schools in these areas:

• Student achievement in reading and mathematics on state assessments.
• Student growth measured by year-to-year improvements in achievement.
• Closing gaps in performance between specific student groups.
• Progress to graduation/post secondary readiness using reliable predictors of high school graduation and post-secondary success.

Overall Muskego schools received ratings at or above expectations, with Country Meadows receiving a grade of significantly exceeding expectations. Here is a list of each school, their score, and links to their individual 'report cards:'

Lakeview Elementary - 72.6, meets expectations
Lake Denoon Middle School - 73.1, exceeds expectations
Bay Lane Middle School - 73.4, exceeds expectations
Tess Corners Elementary - 74.7, exceeds expectations
Muskego Elementary - 78.6, exceeds expectations
Mill Valley Elementary - 79.6, exceed expectations
Muskego High School - 80.3, exceeds expectations
Country Meadows - 87.1, significantly exceeds expectations

According to the district, the entire state of Wisconsin is transitioning to this new accountability system as a response to a federal education waiver that was approved. Until this year, Wisconsin schools were measured by state-specific proficiency levels. The new metrics are based on the higher standards of a national test, called the NationalAssessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) test. Based on this change in measurement, the percentage of students achieving proficient and advanced appears lower than in the past.

Superintendent Dr. Kelly Thompson said the results were somewhat expected.

"This isn't anything new, it's just a different way of measuring, but we will use the higher standards to monitor how we can improve for our students," she said.

The district was quick to point out that the scores were not an indication that  students and schools are doing more poorly, rather the expectations across the nation were raised in preparation for a new assessment to begin in 2014-15. The higher expectations align with the goal of having all students be college and career ready when they graduate from high school.