Mansfield City Schools has continued its academic improvement
efforts which are reflected in performance gains on the 2019 state report card,
but Superintendent Stan Jefferson said today the district is focused on greater
gains in the school year ahead. The district improved in three of the six component grades on the
local report card. Gains occurred in the Progress, Gap Closing and Graduation
components. The B that the district
earned in GAP Closing shows that gains are being made for all students as well
as our most vulnerable populations.
“While we are pleased with the improvement in several areas, we
have raised the bar for academic achievement at all levels,” Jefferson said.
“Our goal is significant, measurable academic gains for all students.”
Within the Progress Component, which the looks at the growth of
students based on past performance, the district saw three of the four measures
improve two letter grades These three groups made the expected growth,
which is equivalent to a year’s worth of learning.
Jefferson credited the work of former superintendent Brian
Garverick and his team. Garverick began work Aug. 1 as the director of
alternative learning.
Stephen Rizzo, the district’s chief academic officer, will
continue the process of working with district and school leadership teams to
analyze report card data for areas of strength and areas in need of additional
improvement.
“I see growth in many areas. We will review all of the data with
our principals and teachers to build on gains and we will also continue to
refine strategies for improvement where needed,” Rizzo said.
He credits the work of students, staff, and families in making
learning a priority both at home and in school.
“We want our students to engage in learning with clarity and a known purpose,” Rizzo said.
Jefferson said Mansfield City Schools will never be satisfied with
its current overall grade, a composite D.
“We know we have more work to do, but we also know – as the Ohio
Department of Education acknowledges – that the state report card is only one
part of a district’s story,” Jefferson said. “Day in and day out, our students
are learning effectively in their classrooms at every level.”
Jefferson said work will intensify to improve other components of
the report card, including students’ performance on state tests, K-3 reading,
the graduation rate and preparing students for success when they leave
school. The district is working to implement new literacy materials this
fall to support reading achievement.