The Nebraska Department of Education released the most recent 2022-23 “District Classifications” utilizing the AQuESST system, in a snapshot of district performance, academics and other information for the previous school year.
In this year’s report, Plainview Public Schools showed some improvement in two of the testing categories, and one reduction in its most recent ranking of “Great” on the 4-point scale.
The scale rates from “Excellent” to “Great” to “Good” to “Needs to Improve” so while there isn’t a lot of room to move up on the classification scale, Plainview Public Schools showed improvement by increasing proficiency in the individual scoring categories this year.
The AQuESST system produces its classifications based on three tenets out of six that were originally intended to be utilized to provide a rounded, complete school system. Since the system’s introduction, only three of the six tenets have been put into use, so mainly the report provides statistical data based on performance of test scores by various groups of youth.
The Elementary, Middle School and High School youth are tested with a combination score of the “Nebraska Student-Centered Assessment System” (NSCAS) and the ACT test given to all Nebraska Juniors to measure their proficiency of materials. The NSCAS is given to third-through-eighth graders, and science is measured in fifth and eighth-grades. In 11th grade, juniors are given the ACT in a similar format.
Raw scores, along with figures measuring “gifted,” “special education,” “English learners” and those youth on free and reduced lunch, as well as attendance, graduation, dropout, and college attendee rates are all calculated and weighted and presented in the overall classification.
Those indicators are intended to give perspective on the testing of students.
Results are broken out by “school” age level, and also in an overall figure for a “school-wide” presentation: school-wide figures are presented in this report.
Overall, Plainview Public Schools, reported proficiency in this year, (last year) format:
English/Language Arts: 53% proficient (52%)
Mathematics: 65% proficient (47%)
Science: 69% proficient (88%)
ACT Scores: ELA, 71% (64); Math, 67% (60); Science, 69% (72)
The Peer group, which can be sorted by similar nature as defined by the DOEd, geography, or inside each Educational Service Unit, reported (by similar):
English/Language Arts: 66% proficient
Mathematics: 70% proficient
Science: 81% proficient
ACT Scores: ELA 61%; Math, 59%; Science, 62%
Other contextual demographics include Student Membership, 346 (320 peers); 31 teachers (30 peers); 92% graduation rate (95% peers) and 78% college-going rate (78% peers).
More information can be found on the report once it is made available to the public on Wednesday, Nov. 22 at www.education.ne.gov.