Officials for Christian County Public Schools took state assessment to heart Monday afternoon, as accountability marks — better known as the spring-administered Kentucky Summative Assessment — were made available for the first time in more than two years.
In what was a whirlwind of state scores in curricula, ACT averages and discussions on graduation rates came a long list of positive and negative discoveries — many of which Superintendent Chris Bentzel said he and his staff were “prepared for.”
This included:
— Six elementary schools scoring a “yellow,” or average, rating under the Commonwealth’s once-again new grading system.
— Sinking Fork Elementary scoring the highest in the district for school climate.
— CCPS Middle and High schools outscoring the state in on-demand writing.
— CCPS graduation rate surpassing the state’s average.
— Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary moving out of its need for Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI).
— The district avoiding “red,” or poor, indicators in all assessments.
— Increasing ACT averages over the last year, from 17.0 to 17.3.
— Improving math scores in elementary, middle and high school African American students.
— Improving reading scores across the board.
— Poor proficiency in science at the district level.
— Freedom Elementary being identified and designated as a CSI school.
— Reading and math scores failing to reach overall state averages.
— And lagging district scores in social studies, altogether.
It’s the first public assessment for all Kentucky districts since March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic began, and understandably it’s a lot to digest. Bentzel said his district “isn’t satisfied,” and that the discussion of the pandemic and its lasting effects should be in the rearview mirror beginning Monday — if not the beginning of this school year.
Assistant Superintendent Jessica Addison noted that transition is already beginning, because this time last year, most students and teachers were working through the “stamina” of being back in a semi-regimented, in-person schedule.
This past August felt a little more normal.
Assistant Superintendent Josh Hunt also noted that, like most school districts across the state, CCPS was dealing with considerable quarantining rules and regulations, and — be it underprivileged, under-served, with IEPs or some other learning roadblock — retained information was suddenly lost.
Bentzel and his team pointed to a myriad of operations already in progress to begin the course-correction process. The 2021-22 school year did bring many students back inside the classroom and out of virtual learning — and while some succeeded with the new digital playground, many did not, and a return to normal instruction is already paying dividends.
Christian County is not averse to the national teacher crisis — which across the country has pulled some of the best and brightest away from the profession in early retirement, or flat-out career changes. A recent 3% raise from CCPS creates “appeal,” officials said, and a commitment to those staying the course.
All is not dour for CCPS, which is currently working toward its massive consolidation of Hopkinsville and County. Bentzel noted this data will serve as the pyramid base moving forward — with many, himself included, thrilled to be turning to learning, as opposed to survive and advance.
Further discussion of these scores, and their impact, is expected at Thursday’s CCPS Board of Education meeting. Monday’s scores were presented by Director of Assessment Zachary Hibbs.
SCORING HIGHLIGHTS
In Reading
Elementary: Novice 37%, Apprentice 26%, Proficient 24%, Distinguished 13% (P/D 37%; State Novice: 28%, State P/D: 45%)
Middle: Novice 35%, Apprentice 26%, Proficient 25%, Distinguished 14% (P/D 39%; State Novice: 31%, State P/D: 43%)
High: Novice 33%, Apprentice 25%, Proficient 29%, Distinguished 13% (P/D 42%; State Novice: 32%, State P/D: 44%)
In Math
Elementary: Novice 35%, Apprentice 30%, Proficient 27%, Distinguished 8% (P/D 35%, State Novice: 32%, State P/D: 38%)
Middle: Novice 38%, Apprentice 30%, Proficient 26%, Distinguished 6% (P/D 32%, State Novice: 35%, State P/D: 37%)
High: Novice 39%, Apprentice 33%, Proficient 23%, Distinguished 5% (P/D 28%, State Novice: 34%, State P/D: 36%)
In Science
Elementary: Novice 20%, Apprentice 60%, Proficient 17%, Distinguished 3% (P/D 20%, State Novice: 16%, State P/D: 29%)
Middle: Novice 45%, Apprentice 42%, Proficient 12%, Distinguished 1% (P/D 13%, State Novice: 36%, State P/D: 22%)
High: Novice 50%, Apprentice 40%, Proficient 10%, Distinguished 0% (P/D 10%, State Novice: 45%, State P/D: 10%)
In Social Studies
Elementary: Novice 43%, Apprentice 30%, Proficient 17%, Distinguished 9% (P/D 37%, State Novice: 34%, State P/D: 37%)
Middle: Novice 47%, Apprentice 25%, Proficient 22%, Distinguished 11% (P/D 33%, State Novice: 37%, State P/D: 36%)
High: Novice 45%, Apprentice 24%, Proficient 24%, Distinguished 6% (P/D 30%, State Novice: 39%, State P/D: 34%)
In On-Demand Writing
Elementary: Novice 27%, Apprentice 42%, Proficient 26%, Distinguished 5% (P/D 31%, State Novice: 22%, State P/D 33%)
Middle: Novice 27%, Apprentice 35%, Proficient 35%, Distinguished 3%, (P/D 38%, State Novice: 26%, State P/D: 38%)
High: Novice 19%, Apprentice 37%, Proficient 39%, Distinguished 5% (P/D 44%, State Novice: 20%, State P/D% 38%)
Other Highlights
— The district’s elementary, middle and high schools all received “orange” aggregates, meaning a need for improvement.
— CCPS’s four-year graduation rate is at 90.2%, above the state’s average of 89.9. Its five-year graduate rate is at 93.9%, above the state’s average of 92.0.
— Elementary school proficiency rates: 37% reading, 35% math, 20% science, 26% social studies, 35% combined writing
— Middle school proficiency rates: 39% reading, 32% math, 20% science, 26% social studies, 35% combined writing
— High school proficiency rates: 42% reading, 28% math, 10% science, 30% social studies, 43% combined writing
