Numerous public schools in Northwest Iowa are celebrating following the Iowa Department of Education’s recent announcement regarding the Iowa School Performance Profiles for the 2023-24 academic year.
In a significant achievement, 26 out of the 33 public schools in the region received “Commendable” ratings, placing them in the upper echelon of the state’s educational institutions.
Central Lyon Elementary and Secondary School in Rock Rapids, Boyden-Hull Elementary in Boyden, George-Little Rock Elementary in Little Rock, Sibley-Ocheyedan Elementary in Sibley, South O’Brien Junior/Senior High School in Paullina, and Rock Valley elementary, middle, and high schools have achieved “High Performing” ratings, placing them in the top 14 percent of schools.
East Elementary in Sheldon has distinguished itself as the sole public school in Northwest Iowa, and one of only 16 statewide, to achieve a “Exceptional” rating.
“The news that East Elementary received a ‘Exceptional’ rating is remarkable,” stated East Elementary principal Jason Groendyke. “The response was a blend of emotions; however, I feel a strong sense of pride, gratitude, and appreciation for every staff member I have the privilege to work with daily and their unwavering commitment to our students.”
“The dedication and effort demonstrated by our students on a daily basis is truly remarkable.” “This doesn’t mean there aren’t challenging days, as there certainly are. However, we maintain our belief in one another and consistently seek the positive in every moment, whether significant or minor,” he continued. “Our primary focus is on establishing strong relationships and understanding our students as individuals.” The speaker expresses a strong sense of pride in the shared belief among their staff that every student has the potential to learn, achieve, and grow.
“Extremely gratifying.”
This year marks the inaugural implementation of designations and ratings under Iowa’s new accountability system. This system features a streamlined set of core indicators, which encompass proficiency results in English language arts, mathematics, and science, as well as student academic growth, chronic absenteeism, graduation rates, and postsecondary readiness.
The Iowa Department of Education, led by director McKenzie Snow, has announced updates to the approved accountability system. These changes aim to deliver school ratings that are consistently rigorous, reliable, and fair, ensuring they are easily understood by families, educators, communities, and taxpayers.
The ratings categories were organized from best to worst as follows:
- Remarkable.
- Exceptional Performance.
- Highly commendable.
- Approved.
- Requires enhancement.
- Urgent matter.
“This rating holds significant importance as only 1.25 percent of schools in Iowa achieve a ‘Exceptional’ designation, and it is quite gratifying to be among the 16 schools that do,” Groendyke stated.
The principal stated that one of East Elementary’s key strengths is its implementation of a Multitiered System of Supports.
MTSS is a framework that integrates data and instructional methods developed by the American Institutes for Research, focusing on intervention, social and emotional learning, and positive behavior support.
Groendyke emphasized the organization’s unwavering commitment to prioritizing the needs of students. “As noted earlier, we emphasize the importance of relationships, making certain that every child is heard, appreciated, and provided with support.” The foundational areas enable a comprehensive approach to effectively address academic, social, and emotional needs.
With the integration of MTSS into all instructional practices at East Elementary, Groendyke has noted that staff can now identify and address the needs of every student more rapidly.
According to Groendyke, ensuring that “no one slips through the cracks” requires a concerted effort from the entire building.
“The pride and investment that our community places in East Elementary is something I am truly thankful for.” “Parents, local businesses, and community members consistently step up to ensure our students have the many opportunities they need to thrive,” Groendyke stated. Numerous events, including musical programs, the National Blue Ribbon celebration, Excellence for East events, and volunteer activities in classrooms, have garnered significant enthusiasm and support from community members. The partnership between East Elementary and the community is making a significant and positive impact.
“Ultimately, it’s always a positive experience to be an Orab, but today stood out as particularly remarkable.”
“Our staff deserves recognition for their hard work.”
During the November board of education meeting, Denise Phillips, principal of South O’Brien Junior/Senior High School, emphasized the significance of the score as a major achievement for her district.
“To provide some context, as someone who focuses on numbers, I want to highlight that fewer than 40 high schools in Iowa are classified as ‘High Performing,’ and there are none that fall under the ‘Exceptional’ category,” Phillips stated. “This statement indicates the current situation.” Staff members and children alike have ample reason to take pride in their accomplishments.
According to her observations, South O’Brien Junior/Senior High School has seen an increase in its rating, moving from a “Commendable” status of 59 percent in 2023 to a current score of 70 percent.
South O’Brien Elementary has made significant progress, rising from a “Acceptable” rating of 55 percent in 2023 to achieving a “Commendable” status with 69 percent. This marks a notable improvement, as the school is just one point shy of attaining a “High Performing” designation.
“Kudos to our staff,” stated Wade Riley, the superintendent of the South O’Brien School District. “The dedication of our staff has been remarkable, and our students have also put in significant effort; as a result, they embraced the initiatives put forth by the teachers.” The elementary school has achieved its highest score to date.
In Sioux County, the Rock Valley School District has reported a significant rise in rates throughout all its schools.
In 2023, Rock Valley middle and high schools achieved “Commendable” ratings, with scores of 55 percent and 59 percent, respectively. The elementary school has maintained a “High Performing” rating for the past two years.
Superintendent Matt Van Voorst expressed the shared anxiety and anticipation surrounding the Iowa School Performance Profiles, a period that consistently peaks in the fall. This is when schools are usually notified approximately one week prior to the public release of their statistics.
“I was ecstatic,” stated Van Voorst. “I was eager to announce the news to my staff, students, and the community.”
Despite the statistics indicating progress from one academic year to the next, Van Voorst emphasized that achieving “High Performing” ratings across the board reflects the dedication of both faculty and students over an extended period.
“This achievement cannot be attributed to just one year,” he stated. “Each year, there is a continuous effort to enhance and achieve greater results; the advantages have truly reflected the efforts invested.”
According to Van Voorst, the foundation of a successful school district lies in having quality teachers who possess both experience and a genuine desire to foster meaningful relationships. The administration plans to analyze historical data to identify areas that require growth, according to his statement.
“You never reach the peak,” stated Van Voorst. “Our goal is not to prove our worth, but to enhance our capabilities.”
Assisting children in their educational journey
The Central Lyon School District has achieved “High Performing” ratings at both the elementary and secondary school levels.
Elementary principal Steve Harman credits the success of his school to the dedicated efforts of his teachers and a comprehensive overhaul of the system.
“It consists of two components.” In a significant development, the school is currently in the second year of implementing a new math curriculum. Harman stated that their approach to elementary questioning and their unique perspective on math has contributed positively to their understanding. “In a significant development, the school has implemented a revised schedule for the second consecutive year. This change ensures that every student in fourth grade and below now participates in a 90-minute reading class, which is conducted without interruptions.”
According to Harman, providing students with a distraction-free reading time each morning, along with a recess break or special activity, has been crucial for achieving success across all areas of the classroom.
Following the break, students transition into a 60-minute math session. The curriculum has undergone significant changes compared to previous years, primarily due to the introduction of illustrative math. This approach emphasizes that there are multiple methods to solve problems, a strategy that Harman claims fosters higher-order thinking among students.
“Our goal is to ensure that every child achieves success,” Harman stated. Every year, the focus remains on finding innovative methods to enhance children’s learning experiences. This development highlights the impact of our dedicated efforts, confirming that our hard work is indeed making a difference. First and foremost, it is essential to have students who demonstrate effort and enthusiasm during assessments, whether it be a one-snapshot test or through questioning. There are numerous factors that contribute to evaluating a school, but my primary satisfaction lies with my staff as they witness these outcomes. There is a strong belief among them that their efforts are becoming evident, affirming that their actions are correct and contributing positively to children’s education.
‘Continue to expand’
Some schools did not experience an increase in their rankings.
Kinsey Elementary, part of the Sioux Center School District, has seen a decline in its performance rating, falling from a “Acceptable” status in 2023 to a “Needs Improvement” designation this year. The score recorded in N’West Iowa for 2024 stands as the lowest, as no other elementary schools have fallen beneath the “Commendable” category.
“The performance was notably low in several areas, which significantly impacted our overall results,” stated Jill Hulshof, principal of Kinsey Elementary.
Included in the report are the reading and writing scores for English language learners, which Hulshof noted the school has been actively addressing even prior to the release of the 2023-24 report.
Kinsey Elementary is set to implement new reading resources and adjust scheduling, marking the beginning of enhancements to its educational system. According to Hulshof, the newly introduced curriculum known as The Science of Reading is poised to serve as the driving force behind this initiative.
The Science of Reading represents years of research meticulously gathered and analyzed by the National Center on Improving Literacy. The discussion encompasses five key concepts: phonemic awareness, which refers to the ability to recognize individual sounds in spoken language; phonics, the skill of extracting smaller words from larger ones; fluency, the capacity to articulate words while reading; vocabulary, which involves understanding the appropriate usage of various words; and comprehension, the understanding of the material being read by a student.
Hulshof stated that when instructing students who may be bilingual or even trilingual, the basic reading measures typically employed by native English speakers are insufficient.
The well-known saying, “It takes a village to raise a child,” is a phrase that Hulshof plans to emphasize to her staff in the years ahead.
“We are evaluating the utilization of all personnel within our facility,” she stated.
Hulshof stated that the primary goal of the Kinsey Elementary faculty will remain centered on achieving success for every child within the school environment. At Kinsey Elementary, it was stated that “students know they are truly loved,” and that “English learners feel cared for.” The focus is not only on teaching students to be fluent in English but also on helping them “learn how to thrive in math and science in that language.”
Hulshof expressed frustration, stating, “What is the most discouraging is we have a lot of good things going on, but this is what gets the attention.”
Similar to how a ranking can decline, it also has the potential to improve through deliberate effort and dedication. Hulshof expresses confidence that this will indeed be the situation for Kinsey Elementary moving forward.
“We are eager to discover the direction these steps will take us in the coming year and to observe our ongoing growth and improvement,” she stated.
