Door County school districts 'Exceed Expectations' in state's 2021-22 school report cards

DOOR COUNTY - With Sevastopol, Gibraltar and Washington Island leading the way, all five school districts in Door County were given an overall grade that "Exceeds Expectations" in the statewide school report cards for 2021-22 issued Nov. 14 by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

The Sevastopol School District had the highest overall score in the county with an 80.3, narrowly edging Gibraltar's 80.2 and the 79.4 for Washington Island. They are the three smallest districts in the county in terms of total enrollment. The Sturgeon Bay School District recorded a grade of 73.3 while Southern Door scored 72.6.

The overall grade to each district and each school, called the "accountability score," is based on their scores in four priority areas:

  • Student achievement, which measures students' skill and knowledge levels compared to state and national standards;

  • Growth, which measures student improvement in learning reading and mathematics;

  • Performance by students with the lowest test scores in their school, called target group outcome scores;

  • and "On-Track to Graduation," which shows how well students reach educational milestones that predict success after high school.

The DPI then rates the districts and schools based on the overall score. Schools with a score between 83 and 100 "Significantly Exceed Expectations"; scores between 70 and 82.9 are considered to "Exceed Expectations"; those from 58 to 69.9 are rated as "Meets Expectations"; scores from 48 to 57.9 are considered to "Meet Few Expectations"; and scores of 47.9 and lower "Fail to Meet Expectations."

Although Sevastopol's score was slightly lower than the 81.2 it recorded in the 2020-21 school year, the district improved its student achievement score from 86 to 86.3, including a score of 89.7 in mathematics achievement. Sevastopol also scored 72.7 in growth, 69.4 in target group outcomes and 90 in on-track-to-graduation.

Gibraltar's 80.2 grade is a big jump from its 74.6 last year. Its 75.5 achievement score was bolstered by a 79.8 in English language arts (ELA) achievement, and its 76.5 growth score similarly was boosted by an 81.2 in ELA growth. Gibraltar also recorded the county's top target group score at 79.4 and had an 89.4 on-track grade.

The Washington Island district tallied the Peninsula's top scores in growth (82.2) and on track to graduation (91.9). Its student achievement grade was 74.7 and it did not have a target group score.

Sturgeon Bay recorded a 66.9 grade in student achievement, 71.7 in growth, 66 for target group outcomes and 86.9 in on-track-to-graduation.

Southern Door had an achievement score of 67 in achievement, a growth score of 71.1, a target group score of 62.1 and an on-track score of 89.2.

For complete report cards, including for individual schools, or more information, visit dpi.wi.gov/accountability/report-cards.

Contact Christopher Clough at 920-562-8900 or cclough@doorcountyadvocate.com.

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This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Door County schools 'Exceed Expectations' in state's report cards