Principals present school improvement plans to board
Centerville-Abington’s four principals have presented 2022-23 School Improvement Plans to the school board for consideration, noting several challenges they’ve faced during COVID regarding student learning. Each analyzed their students’ test scores, attendance, suspensions and other factors.
Rose Hamilton Elementary: Sam Pritchard said student norms rose about 4 or 5 points on the NWEA standardized test. It is taken three times a year with quick results to help teachers see what their students need to learn and to shape their instruction.
In math, second-grade scores are still below the norm, while first grade and kindergarten are on par. Reading scores are pretty low, even pre-pandemic, and in his opinion, students are falling below even post-pandemic. Pritchard is updating professional development and implementing some new programs to address those concerns.
While the district is focusing on math with new goals, Pritchard said there’s a clear need for the earliest grades to continue focusing on reading, since those scores are below where they need to be right now.
Centerville-Abington Elementary: Kelly VanWinkle said out-of-school suspensions have doubled in one year and the attendance rate decreased. The school’s percentage of students on free/reduced lunch decreased last year to 42 percent.
VanWinkle said that kids’ stamina for reading decreased during the pandemic, but they are doing better this year.
Teachers are especially focusing on improving each student’s test scores, not just being pleased when the average of all scores is high.
NWEA Math scores increased, but The school’s IREAD scores decreased, as did its Accelerated Reader. While each grade met or exceeded scores for NWEA Language, fewer grade levels met the school’s goal for NWEA Reading.
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