Photos courtesy of Pickerington Local School District
The Ohio Department of Education released the district report cards for the 2016-2017 graduating classes of Ohio’s public schools in September 2018. Pickerington fared well, earning an overall score of B, but there are some areas with room for improvement.
Pickerington Local School District Superintendent Chris Briggs joined the district team in July 2017. Briggs welcomes opportunities to share information with the community.
“A community that is well-informed is a supportive community,” Briggs says. “We’re excited about what we’re doing.”
According to Briggs, to address improvement goals, PLSD is focusing on the use of the Ohio Improvement Process, a systems framework of collaborative team protocols to analyze data, research aligned improvement strategies, implement and monitor strategies, provide feedback to teams, and determine effectiveness based on performance and implementation data.
Ohio’s school districts are graded on six components: Achievement, Progress, Gap Closing, Graduation Rate, Improving At-Risk K-3 Readers, and Prepared for Success. Detailed information about these components is available on the Ohio Department of Education website.
PLSD received A grades in Gap Closing, with a 97.2 percent overall score, and in Graduation Rate. Pickerington’s graduation rates are 96.7 percent (4-year) and 98.7 percent (5-year).
Receiving a C in overall Achievement has led to increased emphasis on growing the percentage of students who score proficient or better on the state tests and on moving more students to accelerated and advanced levels. Briggs said that teacher-led teams are already moving toward these goals.
Although a grade of C was given to Pickerington’s At-Risk Reader component, 99.1 percent of the district’s third-graders scored at least proficient in reading. However, 43 percent of students who started off-track remained off-track. PLSD is addressing this need with increased emphasis on early literacy. The Kindergarten Literacy Intervention Program, or KLIP, allows educators to identify at-risk students early and provide them with additional learning support to ensure that they begin with the skills they need for academic success.
The score for Progress overall was C. While students in the lowest 20 percent in achievement experienced strong growth based on previous performances, students identified as gifted did not. Briggs says the Plan for Progress, which includes Academic Excellence, Efficient Operations and Modern Facilities, is designed to strengthen and improve the learning environment for all students.
“We are implementing the Ohio Improvement Process within our buildings,” Briggs says. “Although many of our buildings are not new, we are providing modern facilities with what is inside those buildings. Pickerington is also the largest district in the state with the one-to-one initiative, providing a Chromebook or other learning device to every student. The students take these devices home, connecting them to online information and learning opportunities.”
The district’s lowest score was a D in Prepared for Success. This component measures the percentage of students who score well in college entrance exams, advanced placement tests, earn honors diplomas or receive industry-recognized credentials.
“We are aware of the standard on the report card,” Briggs says, “But if you look at our students and what they do when they leave us, we think they are doing great things. We did a community survey last February, taking a look at current graduates and how they are performing. Very few needed remediation courses.”
PLSD is also responding with a planned partnership with OhioHealth Pickerington. Students would be able to earn industry-recognized credentials in the health care field. Briggs explains that with these credentials, “When they walk out our door, they will be able to enter the work force.”
“We believe it’s very important to create an environment where parents feel comfortable in our schools,” Briggs says. “They can also go to our website and share feedback. When we have gatherings, I often ask how many of those present are Pickerington graduates, and how many grads are parents of students in our schools. The response is amazing, about 70 percent. This indicates to me that they believe in the quality of our schools. We are committed to providing great schools and working for continual improvement.”
For more information about PLSD, visit the Pickerington Local School District website at www.pickerington.k12.oh.us.
For more information about the Ohio State Report Card, visit the Ohio Department of Education website at reportcard.education.ohio.gov.
Brenda Layman is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at feedback@cityscenemediagroup.com.
