ICSD 2013-2014 Iowa Assessment Data
August 26, 2014 (Independence, IA) –School Districts are judged on their performance on Iowa Assessments in the areas of reading, math, and science for the total population of students and for subgroups, students with IEPs and students who have low socio-economic status. The assessment is administered once a year. Once data is received on these assessments, staff studies this data. From this process, teachers and administrators seek out research based strategies and professional development opportunities to improve instruction.
A majority of the Independence Community School District (ICSD) students are performing similar to or above students in the state of Iowa and the AEA, Area Education Agency 267. Below are the findings from the Iowa Assessments. Please notice the findings have been divided into overall performance, SES (Low Socioeconomic Status) and IEP (Individualized Education Plan).
Reading Findings
Reading Data Comparison (District overall): Grades 3rd, 5th, 6th, and 8th performed better in comparison to the State and AEA average. 4th grade students performed better than the AEA average. Grades 5th and 6th performed above 80% signifying strong core instruction.
Reading Data Comparison (SES): Students in grades 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th performed better than the State and AEA average. 5th and 6th grade students performed above 80% signifying strong core instruction.
Reading Data Comparison (IEP): Students in grades 4th, 5th, and 6th performed better than the State and AEA average. Students in 11th grade performed higher than the AEA average.
Math Findings
Math Data Comparison (District overall): Grades 3rd-11th performed better than State and AEA average. All grades performed above 80% signifying strong core instruction.
Math Data Comparison (SES): Students in grades 3rd-8th performed better than the State and AEA average. Students in grades 3rd, 5th, and 7th performed above 80% signifying strong core instruction.
Math Data Comparison (IEP): Students in grades 3rd-7th performed better than the State and AEA average.
Science Findings
Science Data Comparison (District overall): Grades 3rd, 4th, 6th, and 8th performed better than the State and AEA average. 5th grade students scored well compared to the State and AEA average. Grades 3rd, 4th, 6th, and 8th performed above 80% signifying strong core instruction.
Science Data Comparison (SES): Students in grades 3rd, 4th, 6th, and 8th performed better than the State and AEA average. 5th and 7th grade students performed better than the State average.
Science Data Comparison (IEP): Students in grades 3rd, 4th, and 6th performed better than the State and AEA average. 4th grade students performed at 80% signifying strong core instruction.
Since 2001, No Child Left Behind (NCLB) has been put into place to collect data in grades 3-8 and 11th to improve student achievement and set goals. NCLB has required the Department of Education to annually monitor school districts and buildings to determine if they have reached their adequate yearly progress (AYP) targets using status and growth models. Also included in the AYP calculations are participation rates for all students and subgroups, as well as, average daily attendance and high school graduation. The goals for the district is set by the Iowa Department of Education and is raised each year with the ultimate goal being every student becoming 100% proficiency in Math and Reading in 2014. If schools do not meet their AYP in state assessments two years in a row, they go through the SINA (School In Need of Assistance) process. Here is the status of schools within the Independence Community School District:
Independence Community School District
| Participation Rate | Annual Measurable Objective (AMO) | |
| Reading | Goal Met | Goal Met |
| Mathematics | Goal Met | Goal Met |
Other Academic Indicator: Met
As a school district, ICSD met both the participation and annual measureable objectives (AMO) for both Math and Reading. Participation rate goals were also met, which indicates the percentage of students that took the assessments for the district. The district also met the other academic indicator, which consists of high school graduations rates and attendance rates at the K-8 level.
However, the individual building data results are as follows:
East Elementary School
| Participation Rate | Annual Measurable Objective (AMO) | |
| Reading | Goal Met | Watch |
| Mathematics | Goal Met | Goal Met |
East Elementary met their goals for participation for both Math and Reading, as well as their AMO for Math. They are on Watch Status for Reading, which indicates that they did not meet their reading goals for AYP for one year. East has a targeted plan put in place to meet their goals for 2014-2015.
West Elementary School
| Participation Rate | Annual Measureable Objective (AMO) | |
| Reading | Goal Met | SINA-3 |
| Mathematics | Goal Met | Watch |
West Elementary met their goals for participation for both Math and Reading. They are on Watch Status for Math. SINA-3 status for Reading indicates they did not meet AMO for the third consecutive year. West has already started implementing their plan to meet AMO in both Math and Reading.
Jr/Sr High School
| Participation Rate | Annual Measureable Objective (AMO) | |
| Reading | Goal Met | SINA-2 |
| Mathematics | Goal Met | Watch |
The Jr/Sr High School met the participation goal for both Reading and Math. For Reading they are a SINA-2 school, which indicates they have not met AMO for two years. They have an extensive plan to address the Reading for 2014-2015. Math is on the Watch Status, indicating they did not meet their goal for one year. The leadership team is putting a plan in place to address this status.
Superintendent Peterson states, “Districts are evaluated on their performance on the Iowa Assessments in the areas of reading, math, and science for the total population of students. Our assessment data for the subgroups of students in special education and students who have low economic status is also evaluated. Our assessment procedures are extremely important for measuring students’ progress. We need to know those students who are succeeding and those who are in need of more support. This student achievement data drives our classroom instruction and the professional development initiatives for our teachers. We continually review our students’ progress and discuss what it will take to make us better. Even though not all of the NCLB goals were met this year, we are encouraged to see that all but one grade made growth in reading, all but two grades made growth in math, and all but three grades made growth in science.”
For more information on the Student Achievement Scores, please contact the ICSD’s Director of School Improvement, Danielle Meyer, at dmeyer@independence.k12.ia.us.
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