Communicating Scholastic Success

ERIC Educational Reports by M. Kevin Matter

Research and Evaluation staff often receive numerous telephone calls from people who want to know which school is the best in the district--or which one has the highest test scores. Invariably, these people equate the best with highest scores. What most of these people want is a school that will challenge their children intellectually, emotionally, physically, and socially. And, they believe that if their children are with those students who have the highest scores--that is, the best, by their standards--then their children will be better.

In light of this expectation, you should present the most complete and impartial picture of your schools to your students, their parents, and the community. However, just sending a report on test scores, even though the scores may be above the state, national, or district average, is insufficient because you must communicate about the total educational program in your district. But what else can you use to measure your district's performance in preparing students for life?

Additional measures are available. Some require effort to collect and organize; others are easily gathered and summarized if you outline and implement a process. By collecting the information in some of these other important indicators of your district's work, you may be better able to interpret and use standardized test data to improve your educational program. More important, your community will learn more about what education is as a profession.ATTENDANCEo Absences: students

o Absences: staff

o Tardies: students

o Tardies: staff

o Percent of students and staff with perfect attendance or fewer than x absences

o Student participation in before/after school programs

o Parent participation in PTO meetings, back-to-school nights, special programs

o Total enrollment

o Graduation rate

o Dropout rateNON-STUDENT PARTICIPATIONo PTO membership

o Number and types of parent volunteers

o Number and types of special programs, fundraisers, etc. (for example, RIF, Jr. Great Books)DIVERSITYo Student population by sex

o Staff population by sex

o Student population by ethnic group

o Staff population by ethnic group

o Percent of students who receive special educational help

o Percent of staff by responsibility (for example, regular classroom teacher, resource room teacher, clerical staff, support staff)

o Percent of students eligible for free or reduced-price meals

o Percent of students who have a home language other than English

o Percent of students who are eligible for Chapter 1 servicesSTABILITYo Percent of students who are new to school/district

o Percent of staff who are new to school/districtSTAFF EXPERIENCEo Average number of years of experience in the district

o Average number of years of experience in the school

o Average number of years of experience in educationSTAFF DEVELOPMENTo In-service programs for teachers

o Peer coaching or teaching programs

o Collaborative programs between business and industry and the district

o Collaborative programs between colleges and universities and the district

o Coursework or training taken by staff during the year and during the summer

o Staff and school grants (for example, skunk works, mini-grants)PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTSo Study skills

o Counseling services (including vocational, post-secondary)

o Dropout prevention

o Students at risk

o Dropout recovery

o Preschool

o Peer or cross-age tutoring

o Community: Big Brother, Big Sister, Scouts, 4H

o Summer school

o Critical thinking, creative problem-solvingACHIEVEMENTo Students' performance after they leave: Feedback from middle and high schools on how well students are prepared in relation to students who attend other elementary or middle schools in the area

o Special projects by teachers, parents, and staff

o Faculty, staff, student awards, presentations, publications, honors

o Percent of staff with advanced degrees

o Standardized test scores

o Local assessment results

o Previous year's ITBS scores

o Test scores for cohorts (following the same group of students throughout their school careers)

o Distributions of test scores (percent of students who scored above the 75th percentile, below the 25th percentile, etc.

o Number of books checked out of the library per student

o Accreditation

o Number of National Merit Scholarship: qualifiers, semi-finalists, finalists

o Student retention rate and number

o Excellence rewards

o Average number of high school out-of-class accomplishments

o College entrance (SAT; ACT) examination averagesENVIRONMENTo Number of incidents of student vandalism

o Number of fights between students

o Types and numbers of disciplinary actions against students

o Special services at the school for:

physically handicapped students

emotionally handicapped students

socially handicapped students

mentally handicapped students

academically low-achieving students

academically gifted students

talented students (academic and nonacademic)

students from low-income families

students dominant in a language other than English

students with learning disabilities

students with behavioral problems

o Extracurricular activities at the school for students: