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“The jump in our graduation rate is proof positive that our efforts are working. ”
– Superintendent
Carol Comeau |
A word from Superintendent Comeau
I am pleased to announce that the district’s graduation rate increased 7 percent since last year. Over the past several years, we have placed significant effort on keeping kids in school, keeping their interest and keeping a diploma in sight. The jump in our graduation rate is proof positive that our efforts are working.
I know these gains could not have been possible without the dedication of ASD staff, from high schools all the way down to elementary schools, where the seeds of college and career goals are planted.
Overall, test participation, attendance/graduation and proficiency rates are high when it comes to Adequate Yearly Progress scores. Districtwide language arts and math proficiency scores are 80.4 percent and 71.4 percent respectively. Results show there are a number of school success stories and areas where there is room for improvement. However, we should not grade the entire district on the limited view that AYP offers.
District staff will start this school year with several weeks of in-depth review of test scores of all students. Staff will analyze scores school by school, and unlike AYP, measure student progress from one year to the next. For example, we’ll see if last year’s third-graders continued to make progress in fourth-grade, rather than comparing this year’s third-graders to last year’s third-graders. Staff will also review the curriculum and make necessary changes to ensure that our educational plans remain closely aligned to state standards. Where professional development is needed, we will increase our training in those areas.
Later this fall, the district will release a thorough report on all students’ scores in grades 3-12 in its annual Profile of Performance. This is when I believe we will get a true perspective on student achievement within ASD.
This year, thanks to a rare, two-year window of opportunity to use stimulus funds to improve student achievement, we will implement new assessment tools to determine how well students are grasping instruction, and pilot several new initiatives to continue to make all students college and career ready.
I am proud that Anchorage School District students are successfully learning the tools that are necessary to reach the next level.
Most sincerely,
Carol Comeau
Superintendent |
