SOUTHWICK – The school district received its report card from the state last week, with high marks in some areas, while others need improvement.
Director of Curriculum and Instruction Jenny L. Sullivan sent an email to Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District (STGRSD) families with links to various reports from the state, available at reportcards.doe.mass.edu.
“Every year, each public school and school district in Massachusetts receives a report card designed to show families how our district and schools are doing in different areas,” Sullivan wrote.
The report measured more than just Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System test scores.
“The report card includes multiple measures of a school’s performance – more than just MCAS scores. It represents a new way of looking at school performance, by providing information on student achievement, teacher qualifications, student learning opportunities, and more,” stated Sullivan.
The district as a whole was rated, as well as individual schools. There are separate reports available for the district, Woodland Elementary School, Powder Mill School and Southwick Regional School. Below is a district summary.
Access to the arts
The percentage of students who participate in an arts course. Arts courses include visual art, music, theater, dance, and general arts.
In 2019, 85.9 percent of STGRSD students had access to the arts versus 80.4 in Massachusetts.
Grade 9 and advanced coursework completion
The percentage of 11th and 12th grade students completing at least one advanced course. Advanced courses include: Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, Project Lead the Way, dual enrollment for credit, approved vocational/technical cooperative programs, and other rigorous courses.
STGRSD had 37.3 percent of students completing advanced coursework versus 65.1 percent in the Commonwealth.
At STGRSD, the percentage of students who passed all their courses in grade 9 exceeded those across Massachusetts — 91.2 percent versus 79.8 percent.
MassCore completion
The percentage of high school graduates completing MassCore in STGRSD was slightly higher than other districts in the state (80.8 at STGRSD versus 79.8 percent). The MassCore program of studies includes: four years of English, four years of math, three years of a lab-based science, three years of history, two years of the same foreign language, one year of an arts program and five additional “core” courses.
Attendance
As far as student attendance is concerned, STGRSD is on par with the state, averaging just under 95 percent attendance in 2019.
Student discipline — reported incidents
This includes the percentage of students who are suspended (in and out of school), expelled, arrested at school or during off-campus school activities, or removed from regular classroom activities due to violence. Incidences of violence include harassment, bullying, and other behavior.
STGRSD had a higher than average rate of in-school suspensions at 3.6 percent versus 1.9 percent but had fewer out-of-school suspensions at 2.1 percent versus 3 percent. And STGRSD had 1.9 percent incidents of violence, versus 2 percent statewide.
Student performance on MCAS
STGRSD was below average for students exceeding expectations at 4 percent versus 10 percent in the state.
The percentage of students meeting expectations was almost the same in all districts at around 42 percent, and STGRSD had more students than the state average partially meeting expectations – 47 versus 37 percent. STGRSD also had fewer students not meeting expectations. STGRSD had 8 percent of students not meeting expectations versus the state average of 11 percent.
Cost per student
When it comes to spending, STGRSD spends about $13,866 of state and local funds and $530 in federal funds per student, while the state average is $15,360 in state and local funds and $622 in federal funds per student.
Graduation and post-grad education
Graduation rates in STGRSD exceed those statewide, with a 93.7 percent graduation rate versus 87.9 percent across the Commonwealth and a 1.3 percent dropout rate versus the state average of 1.9 percent. Rates of post-secondary education enrollment are about the same throughout Massachusetts.
District accountability and progress
The district was also rated on its accountability and progress toward reaching targets. STGRSD received a rating of “moderate progress.”
Sullivan said families can use the information to have meaningful conversations with STGRSD staff about what the school is doing well and where there is room for improvement.
“Community and education leaders can use the information to better understand how to support students and our school,” she said.
