Students Make Strides, Achievement Connected To Feelings About School
DMPS students are making significant strides toward a better future for themselves and their community, according to a report prepared at the request of the Des Moines Public School Board and the Iowa Department of Education.
New numbers show DMPS students are in class more than 95% of the time on average. Out-of-school suspension rates have been cut in half. Graduation rates have improved almost 10% in just seven years.
“Overall we are trending the right way,” said school climate transformation director Jake Troja.
Troja and Chief of Schools Matt Smith presented the information to the school board at a public meeting Tuesday night. Troja said the numbers are encouraging and can get even better as the district focuses more on what drives kids to be successful in school.
“It isn’t about the numbers at the finish line, although those definitely indicate we’re moving in the right direction,” Troja said. “It’s about creating and fostering a feeling of connection in every student. That’s a big part of what drives attendance, academics and graduations.”
The numbers in the DMPS Gallup Poll of more than 16,000 students found 49% were hopeful about the future, 54% felt engaged and 60% felt like they were thriving.
“There’s a lot of room for improvement,” Troja said, “and when those numbers go up, I think graduation and attendance rates will follow.”
Gallup plans to distribute individual school results to principals at all 60 schools, so that school administrators can continue to focus on the needs of the students in their building.
“Sometimes something as simple as a student getting to do one thing they excel at each day can make a world of difference in their outlook,” Troja said. “Better outlooks equal better outcomes.”
DMPS has implemented a number of strategies over the past couple of years aimed at improving student achievement through social interventions.
When a student misses three days of school, DMPS literally comes knocking. Home visits are the norm.
“We want to know what are the barriers and what we can do to help,” Troja said.
When more days are missed, SUCCESS case workers can work with students to overcome obstacles to attending classes. There are programs in place to help them catch up with their peers, and alternative programs if they need additional assistance in order to stay engaged and graduate.
Last year, the Stellar Awards were created to recognize middle school students who accelerated at more than just their studies; rewarding civic responsibility, musical achievement, even their selection of friends. An expansion of middle school activities this year saw student involvement jump 232%.
“It’s well documented that students who participate in school activities are more likely to attend school more often and get better grades,” Troja said. “They feel more connected to their school community.”
DMPS has plans to track and study student participation in activities and connect it to behavior and academics to see what activities are working well at individual schools. Principals can then make program adjustments according to their students’ needs.
Also, a district wide data reporting system that tracks behavior, absences and grades among other things, will give district administrators insight into which schools need assistance, so that all schools can elevate their game.
The goal is to continue to send DMPS students on their way to possessing the knowledge, skills and abilities to be successful at the next stage of their lives.
