Lakewood Schools Back on Top With 'Excellent' Distinction

Stop the scholastic presses. 

Contrary to preliminary results that indicated an , the district was informed that it, in fact, has earned the coveted “Excellent” rating on the state’s annual report card for the 2010-11 school year. 

Superintendent Jeff Patterson made the announcement during Monday’s regular Board of Education meeting at . 

“A lot of hard work has taken place over the past few years, and the work is paying off,” he said. “Congratulations to our students and our staff.” 

A few different factors went into the final rating, . 

23 out of 26 district achievement indicators were met in subjects like reading, writing, science, math and social studies among third through eighth, and 10th and 11th graders. 

Then there was the performance index score, which is the weighted average of all students who tested in grades three through eight, and tenth grade. Untested students also were included, and the district received a 97.9 out of 120 – its highest score in eight years. 

The federally mandated adequate yearly progress or AYP score was next, and it tested math and reading proficiency, test participation, attendance rates and graduation rates among a set of designated subgroups (all students, Asian/pacific islander, American Indian/Alaskan, economically disadvantaged students, African-American, Hispanic, multi-racial, Caucasian, students with disabilities and limited English proficient). 

Lakewood has nine of the 10, and Asian, limited English proficient and students with disabilities didn’t meet the designated AYP standards. 

That hit the district’s ranking, but it was the value-added measure – the final calculation in the state grading system – that elevated the district from an effective to excellent rating. 

“While achievement scores demonstrate a student’s level of proficiency at one point in time, the Value-Added measure reflects how much progress was made since the prior year, Bright said. 

“Value-Added results are calculated in the subjects of reading and math for all districts and for schools that serve students in at least one grade between four and eight…This is really what allowed us to have the excellent rating this year.” 

The district has collectively received “above expected growth” in the value-added category the last four years running.