Students are used to getting report cards so that they know which areas need improvement. But at the end of October, parents will get the same report on their school. It's the first time that the Department of Public Instruction is grading schools to determine what areas need improvement.
The report cards will come out on October 22nd. Public schools will be given an "accountability" grade on a scale of 0 to 100. The scores are based on how each school performs in four areas that include achievement, growth, closing gaps, and post-secondary readiness.
Medford High School is currently ranked 6th in the state by US News and World Report. They are ranked above average in Wisconsin in college readiness, but administrators say the high rankings also have to do with the performance of different student groups, or comparing English Language learners, low-income students, students with disabilities, and members of racial or ethnic groups with their peers. With D-P-I's report cards, growth will also be a big consideration in a high score.
"You do get points for growing," says Laura Lundy, Director of Curriculum at the Medford school district. "Even if they've come in at a fourth grade level at fourth grade, if they grow the next year to a sixth grade level then you would get points for that too."
Other public high schools that ranked high in the area include Rib Lake and Prentice.
