Celebrating Growth and Recognizing Opportunities

Today, the state released our District and School Report Cards, providing us with valuable insights into our strengths and areas for growth. Before moving to the areas of growth, we are proud to highlight the progress we have made in several critical areas. 

Strong Gains in Regular Attendance: 

This year, we saw a district-wide increase in regular attendance, including a 15% improvement at the Primary School. Chronic absenteeism has become a nationwide problem, so to see our attendance trending in a positive direction is worth celebrating.   

Excellence in Graduation Rates: 

We continue to have a strong graduation rate, including our 5-year completion rate, which is 4% above the state average. This trend reflects the hard work of our high school staff in supporting every student and the potential that all of our students possess to graduate from high school. 

9th Grade Success:  

Our 9th graders remain on track to graduate in impressive numbers, building a strong foundation for future success. This accomplishment underscores the effectiveness of our targeted freshman support programs and a strong middle school to high school transition.  

Recognizing the Work Ahead

While these achievements are worth celebrating, we recognize that significant work must be done to improve academic achievement across the district. Our scores do not reflect the potential of our students, nor do they reflect the time and dedication shown by our staff.  As your superintendent, I am asking myself the following questions:

• Are we putting our effort and energy in the right places? 
• Do we have a laser focus on the academic achievement of every student?
• Do we have our resources aligned to our academic priorities? For example, time is our most important resource. Are we spending adequate time on the most important skills that students need to master in order to progress academically? 
• How well are we communicating the strengths and gaps each of our students possess as they move from kindergarten through 12th grade?

Looking Forward

As a district, we are determined to close achievement gaps, celebrate individual growth, and see every student reach their fullest potential. The questions I posed above are ones of curiosity, as I firmly believe that everyone in our district has the best intent to see every child thrive and be successful. We thank you, our community, for being a vital part of this effort. Together, we will continue to rise to the challenge and make a meaningful difference in the lives of our students.  

Click here to view the North Marion School District At-A-Glance Profiles and Accountability Details in English and Spanish.