Most schools in Lincoln and north Pottawatomie Counties scored higher than the state average in four of six categories on the School Report Cards issued by the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) for the 2023-24 academic year. The schools did better in postsecondary opportunity, graduation, chronic absenteeism and academic growth.
Stroud Public Schools Superintendent Joe Van Tuyl said that most report card data is a mixed bag.
“We see gains in some areas, regression in some areas, and we always look for growth in all areas,” he said, adding that their education is a 13 to 14-year process through graduation. “Each year and grade level represents a unique challenge. A primary goal is to determine effective measures to provide individual improvement each year.”
Van Tuyl said that several years ago, the state “recalibrated” the scale, which reduced all schools’ scores in several areas and seemed arbitrary to develop leverage for modifying approaches to education.
“If you follow that process over a number of years there are periodic adjustments to scoring. A desire to improve critical thinking is likely impeded by the ongoing necessity to achieve a particular score mark,” he said.
Eight of 11 high schools in the area received an A or B in postsecondary opportunity, which is the same or higher than the state average grade of B. Postsecondary opportunities are any programs that expose students to early college or career opportunities, such as AP courses, concurrent enrollment, or vocational schools.
Dale and Prague both had As, while Chandler, Davenport, Stroud, Wellston and North Rock Creek all received Bs. Notably, Chandler, Davenport and Wellston all saw increases from the 202223 school year. Davenport rose the most from an F to a B, while Chandler and Wellston rose from C to B.
Van Tuyl said Stroud has always had a special emphasis in this area and that they know they’re the launch point for students into careers of all kinds.
“Our Alternative Education program is very strong as well. Mrs. Elerick as High School Counselor and Mrs. Vickrey as Alternative Education Director are strong influences in our postsecondary planning,” he said.
Seven high schools scored higher than the state grade of D in graduation, with six earning As or Bs. Davenport had the only A, while Chandler, Dale, Prague, North Rock Creek and Carney had Bs and Agra had a C. Chandler, Davenport, Carney and Agra saw no change from the previous school year, while Dale and North Rock Creek both dropped from A to B and Prague rose from C to B.
Chronic absenteeism has been a point of contention. Chandler Public Schools Superintendent Scott Baade said he’s never agreed with it being part of the school report cards as there’s not much schools can do about it.
“We like our kids to be here, and it’s a known fact that kids learn better when they’re in person, but they’ve got to be here, and sometimes it’s out of our control,” he said. Chandler High School scored higher in this indicator, which Baade attributed to Principal Mattheny, who he said tries everything to get students in school.
“They all try to offer some incentives thrown in there for them to be here.
And the key is we try to make it where kids want to be here. That’s the ultimate,” Baade said.
Among high schools, six of 11 schools were higher, while four were at the state average. Stroud, Dale and Prague had As; Carney had a B; Davenport and Meeker had Cs; and Chandler, McLoud, Wellston and North Rock Creek had Ds.
At middle schools, four out of nine scored higher (Stroud, Dale, McLoud and Wellston), while four had an average grade (Meeker, Agra, Prague and North Rock Creek), and one scored below average (Chandler). Nine out of 17 elementary schools scored higher than average.
In academic growth, 15 out of 17 elementary schools scored the same or higher than the Oklahoma average of C. This shows how students are growing compared to their performance the previous year, specifically in English and Math Assessments.
Baade said Chandler Schools have switched to a new math platform. The previous one was behind in standards, so while it might have some growing pains, in the long term, it should help raise scores.
“It gives our teachers and our principals the ability to assess our kids better, and it actually assesses their needs or areas where they’re not very strong and need to be improved. And so that’s something that I think we’ll see in the next two or three years,” he said.
He also attributed a lot of Chandler’s gains to strong support from both the community and the parents.
Van Tuyl said the teachers are one of the biggest strengths at Stroud Schools, though he added that they are seeking improvement in all areas.
“We look for better methods, materials, and strategies for instruction on an ongoing basis. The tasks are never complete, but ongoing each day. Competent teachers demonstrating positive approaches are powerful components in a successful strategy,” he said.