Last week Seattle Public Schools released results of a new school achievement measurement report on 82 schools across the city.
The report includes a new ranking system of 1 to 5; 1 being the lowest and 5 the highest. The evaluation takes into consideration performance levels by analyzing a school's growth performance, the percentage of students who improve math/reading compared to the prior year, and absolute performance; the percentage of students who meet state math/reading standards, earned credits and on-time graduation.
Most disconcerting are results from south Seattle schools. Not a single school scored above a 3, which the district defines as low or medium-low overall performance. Translation: Schools in south Seattle are not making the grade and more to the point, neither are the students.
It's a level of failure specific to south Seattle. Dozens of schools north of I-90 received high marks. As far as the district is concerned, those students are learning successfully.
My children used to attend south Seattle public schools, but we moved for better education opportunities. The district may have a new reporting system, but the results are old and predictable. South end schools have been struggling for years to effectively educate students. Even with the best intended teachers, it's nearly impossible given the reduced resources available.
In the past few years SPS has pushed programs like the South East Initiative (SEI) to increase student performance and enrollment in south Seattle schools. The SEI was supposed to infuse specific schools like Aki Kurose and Rainier Beach with millions in extra funding in order to offer additional teachers and specialized programs. Regarded by most as nothing more than a publicity stunt, the initiative failed.
Under the leadership of Superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson, the district is entering year 3 of a 5-year plan. Of the two dozen goals laid out in the plan, the distric is only on target to meet four. The district acknowledges it's worse-off overall than it was this time last year when it was on target to meet six goals. Nevertheless, Goodloe-Johnson insists the district has "great momentum" to reach those targets.
That seems to be true in some neighborhoods. Schools in Ballard, Magnolia, Wallingford and Queen Anne all boast high marks. What do those schools have that south Seattle schools do not? Perhaps Seattle Public Schools can start by addressing that.
In the meantime the blame game is well underway. Families point the finger at the district, while the district insists it's doing everything conceivable to support south end students.
Do we believe that? Do we accept it?