State assessment data from the last school year shows some areas to be encouraged with and others that need improvement for Todd County public schools.
South Todd Elementary School reduced its percentage of students performing at the ‘novice’ level in all areas of testing—reading, math, social studies, and writing—and increased the percentage of students performing at the proficient and distinguished level.
At North Todd, students who would meet the threshold for free or reduced lunch performed as a group in the bottom 5-percent of the state—giving the school a ‘targeted support and improvement’ designation in that area.
Leadership at that school says the new data will allow them to ‘provide interventions based on the needs of the individual students.’
North Todd has also designated a ‘science specialist’ for each grade level, according to a news release, which says these leaders will, ‘ensure that science content is being integrated into the instructional core as well as creating engaging activities to help students understand and apply science and engineering concepts.’
Conferences are also being scheduled with parents to review progress and to establish plans to help their students improve.
At Todd County Middle School, leaders are celebrating achievement in several categories, including exceeding their goal for growth.
There was a ‘targeted support and improvement’ designation in the disability subgroup.
The school says it’s assisting students in need through several mechanisms including homework help provided before and after the school day. They’re also using the data to focus in on the students needing help the most.
Todd County Central High School received a ‘targeted support and improvement’ in two subgroups. Leaders there say they are “working to provide all students with extra assistance in courses that they may need additional tutoring or mentoring to have the ability to find their individual success.”
Officials say they are “striving daily to enhance the opportunities that our students can obtain through the different arenas of learning that are provided through not only our school classrooms, but through the Career Path Institute and the Logan County Career and Technical Center.”
Overall, Superintendent Ed Oyler says, “My message to staff, students, parents, and our community has been consistent: we are much more concerned with where we are going than where we have been. As we reflect on these scores, it is apparent that we have work still to do. Our staff is committed to that end, and ready for the challenge to help all of our students reach proficiency as we prepare them for academic excellence in all areas and their future careers.”
Click here to find data from across the state.