New state index grades schools’ success

Snohomish County’s alternative high schools and reentry programs are identified as needing high levels of support.

EVERETT — A new statewide index of schools uses factors such as graduation rates, test scores and attendance to determine which schools need to come up with plans to improve student performance.

The Washington School Improvement Framework went online last week. It gives the public a way to see how local schools stack up, and what types of support are needed based on the data.

The database shows which schools, under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act, are required to work with the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction on programs to help students learn.

“We believe the schools will have some flexibility to do what it takes to help the kids in front of them,” said Shawn Stevenson, director of assessment and student services in Marysville.

That’s a “notable shift for school support in Washington,” according to OSPI. Under previous federal law, the No Child Left Behind Act, schools were given specific strategies to put in place if they weren’t measuring up to academic standards.

There’s been a push in recent years to track diverse student data in order to find gaps in learning and close them. The new index incorporates more information to identify problem areas.

Factors considered include: graduation rates; proficiency and improvement on math and English tests; progress made by English language learners; attendance; ninth graders on track to graduate; and opportunities for dual credit or advanced classes.

“All of the things in the index are important to us,” said Catherine Matthews, director of assessment and research for Everett schools. “You really have to understand how the index is created so you can understand how to improve your school.”

The challenge is that it ranks schools in relation to others around the state. For example, a school could have a fairly high graduation rate but score low if other schools have higher rates. That same school may show little progress in helping English language learners, but score high because others show even less progress.

The key is to work on specific areas, Matthews said.

“We are always very attentive in the achievement gap in respect to ethnicity,” she said. “We’re very attentive to that gap when it comes to students with disabilities, low-income students.”

The new state index breaks out student groups within schools, including by race and ethnicity, low-income students, those with disabilities and those who are learning English. It shows where some struggle even in high-scoring schools.

The lowest performing 5 percent of schools need comprehensive support, according to OSPI. Those districts must draft plans to improve, as must schools with graduation rates lower than 67 percent.

Other schools had one or more groups considered low-performing and must come up with more targeted plans.

Around Snohomish County, alternative high schools and reentry programs are identified as needing high levels of support. Those programs already are focused on helping students who have struggled to graduate.

The framework is new, and Arlington educators are waiting on more information from OSPI, assistant superintendent Kathy Ehman said. Then there will be training on areas where schools need to do better, and state officials have talked about possible grants, she said.

Some data for the new system is going to change. The index factors in exams taken by high school juniors, and those are being moved to sophomore year as graduation and testing requirements change.

Matthews expects that more students will take the tests.

“We’ll see a more accurate depiction,” she said.

The index also looks at data tracked over three years, Stevenson said.

“It creates an opportunity to focus more on growth … rather than chasing a new set of standards every year,” he said.

It’s unclear what improvement plans will look like, he said. He thinks they will be based on trends over time and within groups of students.

“Like any system or business, it’s hard to change things in a month or six months,” he said. “There are usually things schools can change given a few years, and this model helps support that.”

Kari Bray: 425-339-3439; kbray@heraldnet.com

How is your school scored?

To see how schools stack up, and which ones were identified as needing support, go to http://reportcard.ospi.k12.wa.us/SchoolIndex_2018.aspx.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Olivia Vanni / The Herald 
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County.
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mukilteo mayor vetoes council-approved sales tax

The tax would have helped pay for transportation infrastructure, but was also set to give Mukilteo the highest sales tax rate in the state.

Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring gives the state of the city address at the Marysville Civic Center on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, in Marysville, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Marysville council approves interim middle housing law

The council passed the regulations to prevent a state model code from taking effect by default. It expects to approve final rules by October.

x
State audit takes issue with Edmonds COVID grant monitoring

The audit report covered 2023 and is the third since 2020 that found similar issues with COVID-19 recovery grant documentation.

Bothell
Bothell man pleads guilty to sexual abuse of Marysville middle schoolers

The man allegedly sexually assaulted three students in exchange for vapes and edibles in 2022. His sentencing is set for Aug. 29.

Larsen talks proposed Medicaid cuts during Compass Health stop in Everett

Compass Health plans to open its new behavioral health center in August. Nearly all of the nonprofit’s patients rely on Medicaid.

Snohomish County Health Department Director Dennis Worsham on Tuesday, June 11, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish County Health Department director tapped as WA health secretary

Dennis Worsham became the first director of the county health department in January 2023. His last day will be July 3.

Police Cmdr. Scott King answers questions about the Flock Safety license plate camera system on Thursday, June 5, 2025 in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mountlake Terrace approves Flock camera system after public pushback

The council approved the $54,000 license plate camera system agreement by a vote of 5-2.

Community members gather for the dedication of the Oso Landslide Memorial following the ten-year remembrance of the slide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The Daily Herald garners 6 awards from regional journalism competition

The awards recognize the best in journalism from media outlets across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

The pathway at Matt Hirvela Bicentennial Park is completed Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023, in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Lynnwood light rail leads to new trees in Mountlake Terrace

Mountlake Terrace replaced trees removed during construction of the Lynnwood light rail… Continue reading

Riverfront Everett in Everett, Washington on Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Everett council extends deadline for riverfront grocery store

A city agreement requires the land owners to bring a grocer there. Developers say more housing units need to be built to attract one to the site.

A firefighter with Sky Valley Fire sprays water on a hotspot Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022, along U.S. 2 as the Bolt Creek fire continues to burn between Index and Skykomish. (Peter Mongillo / Snohomish Regional Fire and Rescue)
Snohomish County releases draft of wildfire protection plan

Community members can submit feedback and questions online through July.

Snow dusts the treeline near Heather Lake Trailhead in the area of a disputed logging project on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, outside Verlot, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Utah Senator pulls public lands provision from tax bill

The original proposal would have put federal land in Snohomish County up for sale.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.