Carol’s Corner:
Profile of Performance measures our success

The district reports on the achievement of Anchorage students and schools in its annual Profile of Performance. Look for our summary report, called Expect the Best, in the Anchorage Daily News on Nov. 15. The detailed report is here on our Web site. Look for our summary report, called Expect the Best, here.

We have much to celebrate–most notably, our graduation rate dramatically increased last year. Yet we face many challenges affecting our students’ ability to meet all of our aspirations for them. Most troubling, their test scores in reading and mathematics on the Alaska Standards Based Assessments were down again for the second year.

The Profile of Performance measures the success of our students through multiple indicators in addition to test scores.

Overall indicators remain positive. ASD student SAT/ACT scores for college-bound seniors remain at or above the national average. High School Graduation Qualifying Exams and Standards Based Assessments for grades 3-10 results are above state averages. Attendance levels have been steady at about 93 percent for the past 10 years. Our staff and students continue to report that their schools feel welcoming, supportive and that they enjoy a respectful climate, according to our annual telephone and Climate and Connectedness surveys.

Our challenge is to continue to finds ways to engage and motivate all students, some of whom face significant life challenges of poverty, transiency, language and disability.

We are extremely grateful for federal stimulus funding this year. The funds are allowing us to connect with our young people through some new approaches. Examples include the placement of career guides in our middle schools, a variety of online courses and assessment tools that allow us to provide specific targeted interventions for students based upon data.

The district met Adequate Yearly Progress, as determined by the No Child Left Behind Act, in 19 of the 31 categories last year. Next year, the bar will rise again in an effort to meet the national goal of all students achieving academic proficiency by 2014.

The Alaska State Board of Education and Early Development sets Alaska’s AYP calculations. Schools have to meet as many as 31 targets related to student participation in testing, proficiency on Standards Based Assessments in language arts and math, and either attendance or graduation rates, depending on grade levels.

Last year, 39 of 96 ASD schools made AYP. Of the 57 schools that did not make AYP, a sizeable portion missed by only one of 31 targets, generally within the population of students with disabilities.

Profile of Performance is a massive annual undertaking by the Assessment and Evaluation Department. I am pleased with the thoroughness and quality of their work. It is an extremely valuable document.

The report provides us with vital information in the pursuit of our mission to educate all students for success in life. It measures our success in meeting the school board’s goals and analyzes achievement gaps among designated student groups.

The report also provides demographic information and drills down to profile each school. This helps us to understand what is happening across our very large and diverse district. While we live in a state with a relatively small population, ASD ranks within the top 100 largest school districts in the nation.

Last year, 48,837 students enrolled in our schools. We saw more than 900 students above our projected estimates for this year and expect even more students next year.

Students are coming to us from all across Alaska, the U.S. and the world. Anchorage has taken in a number of refugees from Sudan and other places. Our increasing diversity reflects the increasing diversity of Anchorage. Ethnically diverse students account for slightly more than half the student body.

We also serve more students in our special programs of English Language Learners, Migrant Education, Title VII Indian Education, Gifted Education and Special Education. The number of students who are defined as homeless also has increased.

The challenges are great. Our blessings are many. In this season of thanksgiving, I thank you for your dedication to our student and their families. I encourage you to continue to do your best.

Read previous stories from ASD Connect's in the ASD Connect archive.

« Return to this month's newsletter