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Seattle Public Schools Superintendent José Banda on Thursday said the District is thriving, with enrollment on the rise and test scores increasing.
"The State of the District is strong," Banda said. "We have work to do to make sure all of our students are succeeding, but I am pleased to see our schools improving and growth occurring both in test scores and enrollment."
On Thursday, the District released its annual District Scorecard and individual School Reports, which provide a snapshot of each of the District's 95 schools. The District Scorecard for academic year 2011-12 shows year-to-year growth in 12 of 23 areas, including one of the District's most crucial goals: on-time, four-year high school graduation.
"The information summarized in this report is important," said Superintendent Banda. "We will use it as we work to build a 21st century school system that ensures students graduate prepared for college, career and life."
Both the District Scorecard and individual School Reports can be found online at https://bit.ly/school_reports. Superintendent Banda will also give a 30-minute overview on the State of the District, starting at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 14 at the John Stanford Center auditorium.
Successes at Seattle Public Schools
Academic gains. Seattle Public School students met or exceeded standard on the state exams in every tested subject in grades 3–8, falling behind only in the high school reading and writing proficiency exams in grade 10 and the new biology end-of-course (EOC) exam. Compared to 2011 results, Seattle students achieved a 12 percentage point increase in 7th grade reading, a 4.6 percentage point increase in 4th grade reading, and a 2.4 percentage point increase in 5th grade reading.
Growing enrollment. For the 2012-13 school year, enrollment grew by nearly 1,400 students for a total of 49,864 students. In the next 10 years, enrollment is projected to grow by 7,000 students, which is equal to 14 elementary schools, 10 middle schools or five high schools. The upcoming 2Building Excellence IV (BEX IV) Capital Levy renewal, if approved by voters, provides funding for school construction and renovation to begin to meet the growing capacity needs. More information on the levy can be found here.
Increased opportunities. In the 2012-13 school year, the District launched four Career and Technology Education Skill Centers, opened K-5 STEM at Boren and McDonald International School, and continued planning for the launch of an International Baccalaureate (IB) program at Rainier Beach High School next year.
Dedicated and talented teachers, principals and staff. The District recognizes the commitment that is shown each day in every school. Our employees are our greatest asset. The 2012-13 school year marks the final year of the historic collective bargaining agreement, and this year the Professional Growth and Evaluation system has been expanded to all schools.
Engaged families and community. Family and community participation in the schools and interest in education and the District's programs continues to grow.
The District Scorecard, which can be downloaded at https://bit.ly/school_reports, shows the District's goals, outcomes and progress. School Reports for 2011-2012 are now available for each of the District's schools. They can be found at https://bit.ly/school_reports. To learn more, including a PowerPoint presentation on the State of the District report, visit the Seattle Public Schools website.
