NEW ULM - Area schools reported a mixed bag of results today, as the Minnesota Department of Education released multiple measurement ratings based on data from 2011-12.
Nicollet Elementary and Wabasso Secondary Schools were named "reward" schools, and several others were deemed "celebration eligible," including Comfrey Elementary and Secondary, Sleepy Eye Elementary, Springfield Elementary, Wabasso Elementary, Cedar Mountain Elementary, Red Rock Central Elementary, and Redwood Area Elementary.
Madelia Elementary and Secondary, and Lafayette Charter Schools were listed among "continuous improvement" schools.
Additional "labels" assigned by the state include "priority" and "focus."
What labels mean
Most of the labels are based on a combination of four measures: student proficiency in reading and math; student growth from year to year; reduction of the achievement gap between majority students and specific other student groups (low-income, minority, etc.); and graduation rate.
Fact Box
| School | MMR* Rating | Focus Rating** | Designation | |
| New Ulm Jefferson | n.a. | n.a. | ||
| New Ulm Washington | 21.74% | 56.67% | ||
| New Ulm High School | 68.87% | 79.56% | ||
| Nicollet Elementary | 83.30% | 84.95% | Reward | |
| Nicollet Secondary | 22.59% | 56.85% | ||
| Sleepy Eye Elementary | 70.84% | 71.41% | Celebration eligible | |
| Sleepy Eye Secondary | 59.29% | 28.29% | ||
| Springfield Secondary | 79.84% | 81.01% | ||
| Springfield Elementary | 62.64% | 76.43% | Celebration eligible | |
| Madelia Elementary | 15.47% | 13.98% | Continuous improvement | |
| Madelia Secondary | 18.31% | 18.79% | Continuous improvement | |
| Lafayette Charter | 21.64% | n.a. | Continuous improvement | |
| Red Rock Central | Secondary | 93.66% | 96.39% | |
| Red Rock Central Elementary | 74.75% | 94.48% | Celebration eligible | |
| Sibley East Arlington Elementary | 13.46% | 55.02% | ||
| Sibley East Arlington Senior High | 93.48% | 94.35% | ||
| Sibley East Gaylord Elementary | 50.23% | 67.66% | ||
| Sibley East Gaylord Junior High | 68.69% | 74.10% | ||
| GFW Elementary | 44.25% | 61.12% | ||
| GFW Middle | 43.77% | 54.73% | ||
| GFW Senior High | 18.55% | 10.68% | ||
| Comfrey Secondary | 62.93% | 97.40% | Celebration eligible | |
| Comfrey Elementary | 61.91% | n.a. | Celebration eligible | |
| Redwood Valley Senior | 41.97% | 57.81% | ||
| Redwood Valley Elementary | 65.74% | 78.53% | Celebration eligible | |
| Redwood Valley Middle | 68.24% | 78.60% | ||
| Wabasso Elementary | 55.60% | 92.57% | Celebration | eligible |
| Wabasso Secondary | 86.86% | 87.38% | Reward | |
| Cedar Mountain Elementary | 65.59% | 66.65% | Celebration eligible | |
| Cedar Mountain Secondary | 19.85% | 16.69% | ||
| * MMR rating: It means multiple measurements rating. It is based on proficiency, growth, success in narrowing the achievement gap between majority and underachieving student groups, and graduation rate. | ||||
| ** Focus rating: it is based on proficiency of underachieving student groups and success in narrowing the achievement gap. |
"Reward" schools are those that score among the top 15 percent in the state, and "celebration eligible" schools include the next 25 percent of schools.
Conversely, "priority" schools score in the bottom 5 percent, and "continuous improvement" schools in the bottom 25 percent.
The "focus" rating is a little more specific. It is based on just the proficiency of students in specific groups that tend to under-achieve (minority, low-income, etc.) and a school's success in narrowing the achievement gap between them and the majority of students. This designation applies to the bottom 10 percent of schools.
According to this system, student proficiency is assessed based on statewide reading and math tests. These tests are given most years, starting in grade three.
The ratings are only assigned to schools that receive federal aid to help boost basic skills (Title I aid). This aid is based on the number of low-income students in a school.
In addition, the ratings do not apply to schools whose grade configuration does not allow them to track progress from grade to grade.
In effect, these two qualifications exclude all the New Ulm public schools from the ratings system.
Washington and the High School do not receive federal Title I aid (the Title I program is focused at Jefferson); while Jefferson has just one grade tested (grade three).
However, Superintendent Harold Remme provided the following preliminary observations about local results:
Overall, New Ulm Public School proficiency scores increased in both reading and math compared to 2011.
High school results are "very good." The scores are in the top 80 percent.
Jefferson School students achieved, in both reading and math, at the highest level possible as measured in the process.
District-wide reading scores were at the 78 percent proficiency level. Reading scores at all grade levels tested (3-10) tend to be in the high 70 and mid-80-percent proficiency levels.
District-wide math scores are at the 66-percent proficiency level. Math scores at grade levels tested ranged from the mid-60-percent proficiency to the mid-80-percent proficiency, with grade five being the exception at the 50 percent level. Grade 11 math scores were at the 45 percent proficiency level but consistent with other schools in the region and state. Lower test scores are due to the revised test difficulty level.
Of the four proficiency areas measured in the process, District 88 rates very high in graduation rate.
Both the school district and New Ulm High School are at or above state proficiency averages in math. The New Ulm High School passage rate for the GRAD math test are among the highest in the state.
The district exceeded state average proficiency in reading.