Strategic plan positions district well
Wisconsin rolled out an educational accountability system with more rigorous benchmarks and a new way to report school progress. Each public school now has a School Report Card that lets people know how well it is preparing students for their futures. Because of strategic planning efforts and a track record of focusing on student achievement, schools in the Hamilton School District earned positive ratings under the new system.
Instead of reporting only student performance on a single test, the new report cards present an overall accountability score calculated using four factors:
“The new system provides helpful information to monitor our progress in the areas that are currently our focus – rigorous standards, student growth and closing gaps,” Cooke said. “The district’s strategic plan has steps in place to address those areas.”
Hamilton School District 2011-12 School Report Card data
School |
Overall rating |
Student achievement |
Student growth |
Closing gaps |
On-track, postsecondary readiness |
Lannon |
83.2 |
88.0 |
79.0 |
73.5 |
92.4 |
Maple Ave. |
77.9 |
82.7 |
72.3 |
66.1 |
90.6 |
Marcy |
90.8 |
90.5 |
87.2 |
93.0 |
92.4 |
Woodside |
80.2 |
80.8 |
77.9 |
72.4 |
89.9 |
Templeton |
80.5 |
85.6 |
68.4 |
72.6 |
95.4 |
Hamilton High |
81.5 |
81.6 |
NA* |
74.5 |
91.7 |
Student achievement – knowledge and skill level compared to state and national standards using Wisconsin Student Assessment System tests given in grades 3-8 and 10.
Student growth – how much student knowledge in reading and mathematics changes from year to year.
*Not applicable for high school because the test is given only to sophomores preventing a year-to-year comparison.
Closing gaps – describes if the gap between specific race or ethnic groups, students with disabilities, economically disadvantaged students and English language learners is closing compared to their complementary groups.
Graduation and postsecondary readiness – success in achieving educational milestones that predict postsecondary success such as graduation and attendance rates, ACT participation and performance, and reading and mathematics achievement.
In addition to establishing School Report Cards, the new state accountability system is bringing about other changes in Wisconsin education including: