Standard and Poor's Report – LaCrosse School District

Three School Districts Receive S & P Citation

Whitman County Gazette
July 7, 2005

Standard and Poor’s School Evaluation Services recognized the LaCrosse, St. John and Tekoa School Districts along with 13 other school districts in the state for 2003-2004. The award recognizes the school districts' proficiency in the state required reading and math standards. To pass, a school district has to have a minimum of 58.7 percent of its students to qualify for the outperforming level set by Standard and Poor’s. According to the records of their findings 233 out of Washington’s 296 school districts had sufficient data for analysis, and 6.4 percent outperformed. The study focused on school districts with a economically disadvantaged population that ranged from 2 to 68 percent. For schools to be recognized by Standard and Poor’s as outperforming, the schools had to meet the standards for at least two consecutive years. LaCrosse School district has 35 percent of its students listed as economically disadvantaged and had 69.1 percent of its students pass the WASL; St. John School District had 32 percent economically disadvantaged with 73.7 percent passing; and Tekoa School District had 51 percent disadvantaged with 73.8 passing. When looking at what schools outperformed in the state, Standard and Poor’s looked at three criteria. To meet the requirements schools must achieve higher levels of student proficiency than peers, it must perform at a higher level that significantly exceed statistical expectation, and school districts must out perform consistently.

Standard and Poor’s took Washington’s State standardized test, the WASL, as a basis of their results. Shirley Skidmore, director of communication for the Office of the State Superintendent, said the ratings from Standard and Poor’s and the states official stand do not coincide. “Standard and Poor’s conducted their research independently of any state influence,” Skidmore said. “There study looks at the educational results of specific demographics and how well they succeed in school.” Skidmore said although 100 percent graduation success rate is a lofty goal, the state is committed to achieving that goal.

Debbie Gatherer, assistant to Sergio Hernandez, superintendent for Tekoa School District, said the news of the award from Standard and Poor’s was news to them, but the superintendent felt good to know that even though students live at or below the poverty level, they can still succeed. Gatherer also pointed out that in a small school district, such as Tekoa, one child can effectively ruin the scores for the whole grade. She said if a teacher has under 10 children in the class and one scores poorly on the WASL, the class as a whole will be marked as failing by the state or independent auditors.

Glenn Martin, principal of Washtucna School District, said next year in Washington State, only 50 percent of sophomores will pass all three sections, reading, writing and math. And although students have the four possible retakes, Martin said he would be surprised if more than 70 percent qualify. According to the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction’s website, LaCrosse has a consistent 91.6 percent graduation rate; St. John 76.6 percent; and Tekoa 75.6. “It could become a little hairy for the state in the next couple years,” He said that the state will probably be forced through budgeting and the number of students who will not have graduation eligibility to modify there graduation requirements.

The superintendent’s web site states between 30-38 percent of eighth graders in Washington passed the standardized test in reading, leaving 62- 70 percent to retake it. 25-30 percent of eighth graders passed the math portion of the test.