The latest report cards for Ohio school districts have been unveiled, with Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) recording a notable uptick in its overall performance. Now standing at a modest 2.5 out of 5 stars, an increase from the previous year, as per the state-run assessment detailed by WLWT, CPS showcased a stride in diminishing the educational gaps, fulfilling state standards in this singular category, propelling further the discussion around inclusive education and resource allocation.
Interim Superintendent Shauna Murphy accentuated the advancements sweeping across the district, with a special spotlight on individual schools confronting and surmounting the state's expectations. Yet, the broader landscape reflects a district grappling with areas falling short of benchmarks, particularly the district's four-year graduation rate lingering at 82.5%. In a statement obtained by Local12, Ms. Murphy unveiled a dual-focused game plan aimed at bolstering middle schoolers' foundations and sharpening math skills among high school freshmen, employing STEM coaches to bridge achievement gaps, primarily in algebra courses.
Looking beyond Cincinnati, Toledo Public Schools (TPS), one of the significant school districts in northwest Ohio, saw a modest improvement in its overall rating, securing 2.5 stars, slightly up from last year's score, according to the state report cards, which were also released on the same day. Despite progress met with satisfaction, TPS confronts its challenges, with stark figures pointing towards continuity of issues mainly reflected in early literacy and graduation rates where the district scored just 1 star, mirroring the previous year's outcomes, as reported by WTOL.
Jim Gault, TPS's Chief of Educational Development, made notes of looming concerns such as chronic absenteeism stifling category successes, committing the district to roll out measures intended to coax students back into the classroom. Gault emphasized to WTOL the need to address social and emotional dynamics and physical needs, including transportation provision and free breakfast and lunch. These are considered imperative to shaping a conducive learning environment leading to improved outcomes, despite the challenges not unique to TPS but also notable in other districts like Perrysburg, which, while earning a stellar 5-star overall rating, still confronts hurdles in early literacy, which stands at a 4-star score, illustrating the endemic challenges of educational systems not just on a single front but across the board covering various facets of learning.
Perrysburg's Superintendent Tom Hosler reportedly hailed the progress in early literacy, a painstaking climb from the previous year's 3-star rating, yet acknowledged the ongoing quest to bolster reading competencies among the youngest learners, investing in foundational reading programs targeting grades K through 3 as a strategic move towards sustained improvement in this critical area. Hosler told WTOL about the district now offering full-day kindergarten for all, an initiative grounded in bolstering literacy ratings in future assessments.
