 |
Annual
Report Card
School
Town of Speedway
Building a Culture of Achievement
Today parents may become more meaningfully involved in their child’s school life on a daily basis. Together parents and teachers should focus on student achievement.
Technology has changed how information is disseminated. It has opened new doors and provided new opportunities for education and skill development. Its presence in the classroom has, however, left some who grew up relying on books and blackboards feeling washed up by the wave of technology sweeping through our schools.
In recent years, we have invited parents to partner with us to take full advantage of the technologies our schools have incorporated. Through Parent Connect, many have recognized the value of being able to access their child’s grades and track academic progress via a secure internet connection. Given demanding work and family schedules, making this connection when it is convenient, rather than when schools are open, is a plus.
Educational technology in Speedway Schools continues to be a strong resource for preparing students for the road ahead. This year we completed our replacement cycle so that all of the computers in the district are less than two years old. Additional interactive software purchases now provide students opportunities to work at a fast pace while building on their previous successes.
Parents who keep informed of their child’s progress and relay valuable feedback to our staff help to strengthen the educational plans for our students. Technology enables us to embrace learning in new ways and merges the learning that takes place at school and home.
N. Andrew Wagner, Superintendent
Speedway Schools P.L. 221 Performance
P. L. 221 places Indiana school corporations and schools into one of five categories based upon “performance” and “improvement” data from the Indiana Statewide Testing for Educational Progress-Plus (ISTEP+). Placements are based on the percentage of all students who pass English and math tests (averaged across subjects and grade levels) and the improvement in passing percentage of students over time. The Corporation earned a Commendable Progress rating for 2005-06.
Top of Page
Opinions differ about the emphasis that should be placed on assessment tests like the ISTEP+. However, one thing we know is true – these tests are a valuable instrument used by our school district to evaluate the job we are doing. By comparing Speedway to other school districts in Marion County, as well as statewide pass rates, we can determine whether the children we serve are gaining the skills and proficiencies state policymakers mandate.
The percentage of 3rd through 8th graders in Speedway who scored above state standards in both English/Language Arts and math exceeded county averages. Speedway was ranked first in Marion County for having the highest percentage of students passing English/Language Arts and second in the county for math. The 8th graders in Speedway scored above state standards in both English/Language Arts and math and achieved the highest pass rating in Marion County.
Looking collectively at the scores of all 3rd through 10th graders who took the ISTEP+ in the fall of 2005, we see that 68.8% of Speedway students passed both portions of the test compared to 64.1% statewide. While there is still progress to be made, as a school district, we are meeting or exceeding the bar.
Speedway State
3rd grade English 78.6% 75.8%
Math 74.5% 74.1%
4th grade English 75.4% 74.7%
Math 72.9% 75.8%
5th grade English 81.9% 74.7%
Math 81.1% 77.1%
6th grade English 77.9% 72.3%
Math 87.7% 78.8%
7th grade English 73.6% 69.6%
Math 81.1% 76.9%
8th grade English 82.7% 69.7%
Math 89.5% 72.7%
9th grade English 72.9% 68.2%
Math 80.7% 71.1%
10th grade English 71.4% 69.2%
Math 60.5% 65.5%
The federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) requires schools in this country to annually improve the academic achievement of their overall student population as well as within student groups analyzed by economic background, race and ethnicity, English proficiency and special education needs. Before a school district is designated as having achieved NCLB adequate yearly progress (AYP), schools must make AYP within all groups evaluated.
Speedway achieved AYP at all levels – elementary, middle, and high school – in 2005. ISTEP+ scores, attendance rates, and graduation rates collectively determine AYP success.
|
From the time they enter our schools, students are taught and encouraged to take full advantage of the opportunities for learning today’s technology can provide. The integration of curriculum with technology in our schools, and the district’s 1:2 student-to-computer ratio, gives our young people hands-on access, allowing them to become both comfortable and adept with these tools. Software applications including Success Maker, Plato, and Accelerated Reader are used to teach basic skills and improve comprehension. As students move forward, exposure to advanced applications including Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite, and Autoskill Design Academy opens doors to new opportunities. As technology develops, the introduction of new hardware and industry-standard applications in the classroom enables students to develop skills that can be used for years to come.
|
The emphasis placed on professional development by NCLB and Public Law 221 (Indiana’s school improvement plan) is not new to teachers and administrators in Speedway. Long before these laws began mandating professional development in our schools, enrichment opportunities like those available through Indiana’s Teacher Leadership Academy were enhancing the skills and educational strategies our teachers bring to their classrooms.
Speedway continues to take a proactive approach to professional development. Staff sought and received Early Literacy grants from the Lilly Endowment, Inc. and the Department of Education that totaled well over $297,000. These expand the development opportunities available to teachers in our primary grades. As a result of this and other training accessed by the district, teachers are better equipped to gauge each child’s reading progress and enhance the development of essential skills – a crucial step toward academic success.
Fisher 97.1% Wheeler 97.1%
Newby 97.3% SJHS 96.5%
Allison 96.5% SHS 96.6%
Children must be present to learn. Over the years, this is a message that teachers and administrators in all Speedway schools have worked hard to drive home. In 2005-06, our school families responded in a positive way. District-wide, we achieved a 96.8% attendance rate, within striking range of the aggressive 97% attendance goal we set for ourselves. As evidenced by its inclusion in the federal government’s AYP standards, attendance is vital to education.
While they may be with us for just 12 years, our goal is to set each student on a path to becoming a life-long learner.
We are proud of our students’ success. In 2006, SHS graduated 89 seniors. Eighty-six percent of those surpassed basic requirements, receiving either Academic Honors or Core 40 diplomas. For many, this is just the beginning.
© 2006 Speedway School
District | All Rights Reserved
Contact Speedway School District
Webmaster with comments or questions.