Iowa School Performance Profile Shows 16 DMPS Schools Improve Categorization Since Last Year

From growth and proficiency in various subject areas to school attendance to high school graduation, many important factors go into looking at the growth and success of students and schools.

In Iowa, the Iowa School Performance Profile (ISPP) serves as an important measurement of the state’s public schools. At Des Moines Public Schools, the results include reasons to celebrate as well as a reminder that much work remains to be done.

Part of the state’s plan under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), it identifies schools that need additional support in one of two categories:

• Comprehensive Support: Any public school which receives Title I funds and performs in the lowest 5% of Title I schools based on the ISPP or any public high school with a graduation rate less than 66%. When schools are identified as “Comprehensive” they are placed on a three-year cycle for support.
• Targeted Support: Any public school (Title I and non-Title I) with a student group performing at or below the cut point set by the lowest 5% of Title I schools based on the ISPP. Student groups include categories such as English Language Learners, Low Socio-Economic Status, Students with Disabilities, etc. Schools may be identified to receive Targeted support for different student groups annually and may also exit Targeted support annually.

This week, the Iowa Department of Education released the updated ISPP. Also included on the Iowa School Performance Profile website is the State Report Card status.  While these closely relate to the ISPP designations under the federal law and use the same score, there is not a direct correlation between State Report Card status and whether a school receives a specific ESSA designation.

At Des Moines Public Schools, the updated index resulted in significant changes to supports. Some highlights include:

• Two elementary schools – Carver and Edmunds – that were previously identified for Comprehensive support are now no longer in need of such support under ESSA.
• One elementary school – Monroe – that was previously identified and receiving Comprehensive support is now only in need of Targeted support.
• Thirteen schools that were previously identified for Targeted supports are no longer in need of receiving such support. Those schools are Greenwood, Hanawalt, Hillis, Lovejoy, Madison, McKinley, Moore, Moulton, Perkins, Samuelson, Walnut Street, Windsor, and Wright.
• Eight schools are newly identified for receiving Comprehensive support. Those schools are Brubaker, East, Harding, Hiatt, Hoyt, King, Lincoln, and Studebaker.
• Four schools that were identified for receiving Comprehensive support will continue to from the Iowa Department of Education. Those schools are Goodrell, North, Virtual Campus, and Weeks.
• Two schools were newly identified to receive Targeted support based on one or more student groups. Those schools are Oak Park and Phillips.
• Nineteen schools were identified to receive Targeted supports previously and continue to receive Targeted support, based on one or more student groups.  Those schools are Brody, Callanan, Capitol View, Cattell, Findley, Garton, Hoover, Hubbell, Jackson, McCombs, Meredith, Merrill, Morris, Park Avenue, River Woods, Roosevelt, South Union, Stowe, and Willard.
• Twenty-five schools were not identified for either Comprehensive or Targeted supports.  Those schools are Carver, Cowles, Downtown, Edmunds, Greenwood, Hanawalt, Hillis, Howe, Jefferson, Lovejoy, Madison, McKinley, Moore, Moulton, Perkins, Pleasant Hill, Samuelson, Walnut Street, Windsor, and Wright.

Schools identified as in need of Comprehensive support will receive monthly visits and coordination with the Iowa Department of Education while schools identified as receiving Targeted support will receive supports from the AEA and DMPS staff.

“At DMPS, we are grateful for the individuals who show up every single day to ensure that the students who walk through our school doors receive a quality education,” said Dr. Ian Roberts, superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools. “One recognition of their good work comes in the Iowa Department of Education’s release of the state’s school performance profiles. We recognize and celebrate Carver and Edmunds schools, who went from receiving the highest levels of State Support over the last three years due to some outcomes that were not necessarily up to par to now being designated as not needing any form of support; Monroe Elementary School, for being removed from the comprehensive designation to only having a selected targeted designation; and thirteen of our schools who no longer need comprehensive or targeted support.”

“It is clear to us that, while we have areas in which we need to grow and get better, this bodes well for what is to come with our dedication to high quality instruction and excellent teachers and school leaders,” added Roberts. “We certainly recognize and acknowledge that there’s still much work for us to do but this is encouraging as we continue to press forward and stop at nothing until 100% of our schools no longer any such designations.”

For additional information, please visit the Iowa Department of Education.