INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indiana Department of Education released the 2015 accountability grades Tuesday morning.
The scores, which were approved by the State Board, show an increase in the number of "A" rated schools and a decrease in those rated an "F". With 46 schools yet to be graded, "A"s increased by about 2.5 percent from 2014.
MORE | Check out the full school accountability grades here
Because last year's ISTEP was different and more difficult, scores fell. Gov. Mike Pence signed a "Hold Harmless" bill that ensures no school sees a drop in their accountability grade.
The Indiana Department of Education reports that nearly 57 percent of Indiana schools were held harmless in terms of accountability grades, which means those Indiana schools would have seen their grade drop had the hold harmless bill not been signed into law.
PREVIOUS | Indiana board approves schools' key 'A-F' grades
“After more than 18 months spent advocating to hold our schools and teachers harmless for the transition to more rigorous college and career ready standards and the results of a more rigorous ISTEP+ assessment, I am pleased to release 2015 school accountability grades that do not penalize schools and communities for this transition," Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz said. "I want to thank Indiana’s students, educators, and families for their hard work and patience during this challenging school year."
Schools are given the better grade of the last two years.
Some schools' grades did go up, despite the increased difficulty. Decatur Township and Avon had three schools each that improved.
"I'm proud," Decatur Central High School Scott DeFreese said. "I'm very proud. There has been a ton of hard work over several years."
|
Grade |
2015 Schools |
Percentage |
|
A |
1179 |
54.48% |
|
B |
404 |
18.67% |
|
C |
307 |
14.19% |
|
D |
129 |
5.96% |
|
F |
55 |
2.54% |
|
No Grade |
44 |
2.03% |
|
TBD |
46 |
2.13% |
|
Grand Total |
2164 |
|
Grade |
2014 Schools |
Percentage |
|
A |
1125 |
51.94% |
|
B |
423 |
19.53% |
|
C |
331 |
15.28% |
|
D |
134 |
6.19% |
|
F |
84 |
3.88% |
|
No Grade |
69 |
3.19% |
|
Grand Total |
2166 |
In September, we identified six schools that were in "state stakeholder territory," meaning they had five consecutive "F"s, and a sixth would allow the state to take them over. Five of the six received an "F" again this year:
- Hoosier Academy Virtual Charter School – F
- Joseph Block Middle School – F
- Joyce Kilmer School 69 - F
- George H Fisher School 69 – C
- Francis Scott Key School 103 – F
- Lodge Community School - F
PREVIOUS | Failing schools could learn if they're in state takeover territory as early as December
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