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State issues education report cards Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell Washington Elementary first-grader Nubia Lopez focuses her attention on teacher Ann Manes during one of the school's English as a second language classes. Washington is one of four Medford schools to receive the state's highest rate in overall performance this year. By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune Out of the 50 Oregon schools receiving exceptional ratings on the state's annual report card released Thursday, four are in the Medford School District. Jacksonville, Hoover, Lone Pine and Washington elementary schools' impressive scores gave the Medford district the distinction of being one of only four in the state to scoop up four or more exceptional ratings in the Oregon Department of Education's annual report card. "Four exceptional schools in a district of that size is impressive," said Aaron Munter, data manager for the Oregon Department of Education. Of the 53 schools rated in the county, 26 received a satisfactory score and 23 were rated strong. None received less than a satisfactory mark. Last year, of the schools rated, 25 received satisfactory, 24 strong and two scored exceptional. The report card, which scored 1,220 schools statewide, takes into account assessment test scores, attendance rates, participation in state tests and overall improvement in the past four years. Schools could have received one of five scores for their overall performance: unacceptable, low, satisfactory, strong and exceptional. Scores rate schools' performance against comparable schools throughout the state. As a result, some Jackson County schools could post high scores on tests but still get less than an exceptional score. Medford tied with the larger districts of Eugene and Forest Grove. Portland, the largest district in the state, had six top schools. Jacksonville Elementary has the distinction of being one of only five schools in the state to receive an exceptional rating three years in a row. The other schools with the same three-year exceptional scores are in Eugene, Portland and Forest Grove. Jacksonville Principal Bob Goerke said the Medford district aggressively altered its curriculum to align with the state standards. "My general impression is that these four schools have done a better job to get their total staff to focus on their curriculums compared to the rest of the state," he said. As to his school specifically, he said, "We are making sure teachers hold to that and get off their pet projects." Goerke said it will be difficult to continue receiving the exceptional rating because the state expects improvement every year. "We're doing everything we can to keep the staff motivated and pumped up," he said. Washington Elementary jumped from a satisfactory rating last year to an exceptional one this year despite having 82 percent of its 451 students on a free and reduced lunch program as well as 18 percent enrolled in English as a second language programs. Washington Principal Stephanie Johnson credits the higher scores to a combination of school programs, including working one-on-one with students as much as possible and reaching out to parents, particularly in the Hispanic community. Despite the obstacles of a school with a large number of socioeconomically disadvantaged students, Washington scored higher on reading, writing, mathematical multiple choice and mathematical problem solving tests than comparison schools around the state. "We are about 20 to 25 points higher," said Johnson. The only slight blemish in the score, she said, is an attendance rate of 92.3 percent compared to the state average of 93.8 percent. Lone Pine Principal Richard Miles said, "There's no magic bullet, but a combination of a lot of different factors that have made us successful." Even in an environment where there is a lot of parent and teacher support, Miles said, there can be problems. "The baggage that kids bring to school is overwhelming sometimes," he said. Miles cited everything from abusive family situations to divorces. Hoover Elementary has shown gains in each of the past three years on state report cards, moving from satisfactory to strong to exceptional. Principal Phil Meager said his school has worked hard to get teachers on the same page over this period, offering the same instruction to students to make sure they do well on state tests. But testing is only one part of showing how well a school is doing, he said. "We're not like a restaurant," he said. "You can rate restaurants on food, but there are a whole bunch of factors that contribute to a school's success." Jefferson Elementary, which had an exceptional rating two years in row, received a strong rating this year. Medford schools superintendent Steve Wisely said, "I think this community can be very pleased with the Medford School District." Wisely credited the district's continued focus on the state standards and the adoption of mathematics and reading materials that are aligned with these standards. One thing the district still needs to work on, he said, is attendance and dropout rates. On the Web: www.ode.state.or.us. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.