Utah School Report Card Highlights Achievements and Progress
A Look at Performance Indicators
The Utah Board of Education recently released its annual school report cards, providing a comprehensive assessment of individual schools and districts in the state. This report allows parents to examine various performance indicators, such as achievement and growth, providing valuable insights into the education system.
Achievement Scores and Standardized Testing
To determine achievement scores, the board measures the number of students who score proficient on standardized tests. For grades 3 through 8, the RISE test is used, while grades 9 through 10 are assessed with the Utah Aspire Plus. 11th graders are evaluated based on their ACT scores. Notably, 12th graders do not have a statewide assessment. This year, Utah’s schools achieved a participation rate of 97%.
Statewide Achievement in Language Arts, Math, and Science
The report’s achievement section reveals the overall proficiency levels in language arts, math, and science statewide. Unfortunately, Utah’s primary and secondary students are averaging below 50% proficiency in all three subjects. High school achievement in language arts increased by 1.6% to 45.9%, science rose by 1.1% to 35.2%, and math fell by 1.7%, landing at 30.8%. Grades 3 through 8 saw a slight increase in language arts achievement, a slight drop in mathematics, and a 1% gain in science.
Wasatch County and Park City Districts Outperform Peers
Impressive Proficiency Rates
In comparison to their state peers, both Wasatch County and Park City school districts have demonstrated higher proficiency rates. Wasatch County reported an 88.7% participation rate and saw notable improvements across all subjects, with English proficiency at 60.3%, math at 59.2%, and science at 57.9%. The district’s high schoolers showed significant gains in language arts and science, achieving proficiency rates of 54.8% and 42.8% respectively. However, their proficiency in math decreased by 0.8%, leaving them only about 6% ahead of the state average.
Park City schools exhibited similar proficiency rates. With a participation rate of 98.1%, the report card indicates that 57.4% of elementary students are proficient in language arts, 53.6% in math, and 62.1% in science. Park City high schoolers were found to be 60.8% proficient in English, 54.9% in science, and 39.8% in math, with a slight drop of less than 2% in the math category.
Striving for Continuous Improvement
Both districts expressed pride in their students’ progress and gratitude for their exceptional educators. Park City School District Chief Teaching and Learning Officer Stacey Briggs emphasizes the importance of the report in guiding their efforts to provide additional support where needed for student success. Similarly, Wasatch County School District Superintendent Paul Sweat credits the district’s dedication to helping as many students as possible become proficient in core subjects.
Beyond Proficiency: Other Aspects of School Districts
In addition to proficiency, the state report card also measures various aspects of school districts, such as postsecondary readiness, English-learner progress, and student growth. Both Wasatch County and Park City districts consistently outperformed the state average in each measured category of high schoolers’ growth, including math, language arts, and science. Park City School District also showed progress in providing support for the lowest 25% of students, exceeding the state by about 9%. Overall, both districts have impressive four-year graduation rates above 93%.
It’s clear that these report cards provide valuable insights into Utah’s education system, highlighting areas of success and areas for improvement. As parents and community members, we can use this information to support our students and advocate for continued progress in education.
