Springfield scores ‘F’ overall grade on state report cards; Northwestern, Tecumseh improve

Springfield schools received an overall ‘F’ grade on state report cards released Thursday. BILL LACKEY/STAFF

Springfield schools received an overall ‘F’ grade on state report cards released Thursday. BILL LACKEY/STAFF

Springfield City School District has received an ‘F’ overall grade on state report cards which were released Thursday morning.

Springfield is one of only four districts in the state to receive an ‘F’ overall grade.

>> FIND OUT HOW YOUR SCHOOL DID HERE: 2018-19 state report card results

Tecumseh Local Schools and Northwestern Local Schools were the only two districts in Clark county to raise their overall grade this year.

Northwestern received an overall grade of “B”, raising their grade from an overall grade of “C” last year, on state report cards.

Tecumseh raised their overall grade from a “D’” to “C.”

Also falling in ratings this year was Southeastern Local Schools, who dropped to a “C” overall grade from a “B”, and Greenon Local Schools who dropped from a “C” to a “D.”

More: Springfield City School wants Ohio to stop taking over schools

Each school and district received a report card with an A-F grade. More than half of each school’s overall grade depends on how students perform on state tests each spring. Six factors are nearly evenly weighted - achievement, progress and “gap closing” on state tests, plus graduation rate, improving in K-3 reading and a “prepared for success” measure based on high school accomplishments.

Springfield received an F as an overall grade, as well as in 10 out of 14 categories. Here is how the district scored:

Achievement component grade: F

Performance index score grade: D

Indicators met grade: F

Progress component grade: D

Overall value-added grade: F

Gifted value-added grade: C

Lowest 20% value-added grade: F

SWD value-added grade: F

Gap closing component grade: F

Graduation component grade: F

4-year graduation rate grade: F

5-year graduation rate grade: F

Improving at-risk K-3 readers component grade: D

Prepared for success component grade: F

The Springfield News-Sun has reached out to Springfield City Schools for comments and is awaiting a response.

More: With state report cards due, few agree on how to evaluate schools

Springfield City School District Superintendent Bob Hill said earlier this week he believes, “the imperfect system that we call the Ohio report card only tells a portion of the story.”

“In this system, the state attempts to assign a letter grade to set a complex metrics, many of which are so convoluted and technical that the state must release multi-page documents to attempt to explain them or for some, mathematical calculation that are proprietary and that they are not legally allowed to disclose,” Hill said.

Hill said using report card grades to compare schools is, “very misleading, unfair and riddled with bias.”

Last year, Springfield received an overall grade of ‘D.’

Hill said the district, “has one of the best villages in the state of Ohio.”

“We have a plan in place that focuses on a consistent system of standards based on high quality, best teaching practices, coupled with a focus on the soft skills, and real world application of skills through project based learning that will allow us to begin to meet the benchmarks set forth by the state.”

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