2022-2023 School Report Card Results for Russell County Schools
The U.S. Department of Education (USED) required states to implement school accountability and school identification requirements for the 2022-2023 school year.
The Kentucky Board of Education (KBE) approved amendments to 703 KAR 5:270 to include changes required by Senate Bill 158 (2020). The new accountability system includes an exclusive list of six state indicators that measure school performance: (1) State Assessment Results in reading and mathematics, (2) State Assessment Results in science, social studies, and writing, (3) English Learner Progress, (4) Quality of School Climate and Safety, (5) Postsecondary Readiness (high school only) and (6) Graduation Rate (high school only).
The accountability system’s overall performance for each district, school and student demographic group determined by the state indicators shall combine current year performance, called “Status” and improvement from the prior year to current year, called “Change.”
For each state indicator, there are five Status Levels, ranging from Very High to Very Low and five Change Levels, ranging from Increased Significantly to Declined Significantly. Indicator color ratings are based on the combination of Status and Change using a 5 X 5 table.
Overall Performance Ratings are reported using a color rating system to communicate performance of schools. Color ratings will include five performance levels from highest to lowest, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange and Red.
Kentucky continues to have federal accountability and school identifications of Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI), and Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI) in the 2022-2023 school year. There will be no new Additional Targeted Support and Improvement (ATSI) identifications this year.
With the release of 2022-2023 school year assessment data, families, educators, lawmakers and education stakeholders across the Commonwealth have a new way to understand how their local schools are performing. However, assessment results are just one component the Russell County School District is utilizing to create a more robust and equitable education system.
SPOTLIGHT on SCHOOLS of RUSSELL COUNTY
RUSSELL COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
With an overall score of 71.2, Russell County High School (RCHS) received a color rating of GREEN. The combined reading and math indicator of 73.8 is BLUE. The current status is 66.8 - high, a significant increase of 7.0 from the prior year. The science, social studies and writing indicator is 32.9 ORANGE with a current low status of 42.9, a -10 decline from the prior year. The proficient/distinguished percentages were higher than the state averages in reading and math, while the proficient distinguished percentages were lower than the state in science, social studies, and combined writing including editing and mechanics and on demand writing.
All Kentucky public school juniors participate in the ACT, which tests students in English, mathematics, reading and science. The ACT is scored on a scale of 1 to 36. Overall, scores for Russell County students declined from the prior year and are below the state level in all categories.
There was a slight increase in the overall graduation rate across the state of Kentucky from 90.95% to 91.95%. The graduation indicator rating is 97.3 GREEN for Russell County. The high status level increased 1.5 from 94.3% to 95.8%. Furthermore, the Postsecondary Readiness Indicator landed in the BLUE at 98.5. The current status is 96.1 - very high with a 1.5 change increase. This indicator gives students flexibility on how they demonstrate either academic or career readiness.
RUSSELL COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL
Russell County Middle School (RCMS) received a GREEN color rating overall with a score of 65.2. The combined reading and math indicator of 70.7 is GREEN with a high status level of 66.7 - an increase of 4 from the prior year and the science, social studies and writing indicator of 59.5 is GREEN with a current medium status of 56.4, a 3.1 increase from the prior year. The proficient/distinguished performance levels were higher than the state in reading, mathematics and science. The novice/apprentice performance levels were higher than the state in social studies and combined writing including editing and mechanics and on demand writing. Additionally, Russell County Middle School received a federal classification of Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI) for students with disabilities.
JAMESTOWN, RUSSELL SPRINGS and SALEM ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
Jamestown Elementary School (JES) received an overall score of 63.4 for a YELLOW color rating. The combined reading and math indicator of 53.4 is ORANGE with a current medium status of 60.1, a significant decline of -6.7 from the prior year. The science, social studies and writing indicator of 75.3 is GREEN with a medium status level of 64.9, a significant increase of 10.4. The overall score of 85.7 BLUE for Russell Springs Elementary School (RSES) consisted of a combined reading and math indicator of 86.7 BLUE with a current status of 82 - very high, an increase of 4.7 from the prior year and the science, social studies and writing indicator of 87 BLUE that reflects a very high current status of 81.6, a 5.4 increase. Salem Elementary School (SES) received an overall score of 77.5 with a GREEN color rating. The combined reading and math indicator of 76.4 is GREEN with a high current status level of 70.9, a 5.5 increase from the prior year. The science, social studies and writing indicator of 79.1 is BLUE. The current status is 69.9 - high, an increase of 9.2 from the prior year.
Performance levels among the elementary schools were diverse compared to the state. The proficient/distinguished performance levels in reading and mathematics for RSES and SES were above the state while JES was below. Science scores for all elementary schools reflected higher proficient/distinguished levels than the state. Both RSES and SES, specifically, scored above the state proficient/distinguished performance level in social studies while JES was below. In combined writing including editing and mechanics and on demand writing, all elementary schools were above the state proficient/distinguished level. More explicitly, RSES and SES scored above the state proficient/distinguished level in editing and mechanics while JES was below and all elementary schools scored above the state proficient/distinguished level in on demand writing.
KINDERGARTEN READINESS, ENGLISH LEARNERS and
QUALITY of SCHOOL CLIMATE and SAFETY SURVEY
Kentucky’s Common Kindergarten Entry Screener, the BRIGANCE Early Childhood Kindergarten Screen III, provides a quick and accurate assessment of a child’s development in five areas: Academic/Cognitive, Language Development, Physical Development, Self-Help and Social-Emotional Development. 44% were kindergarten ready compared to the state’s 46%. 23% were average/above average in academic/cognitive, 9% lower than the state percentage of 32% average/above average. 71% performed average/above average in language development while the state average was 69% and 80% performed average/above average in the social emotional area with the state average being 74%.
English Language Learners take an ACCESS test to examine English Proficiency in comprehension, listening, literacy, oral, reading, speaking and writing. During the 2022-2023 school year, sixteen Russell County students reached attainment, an increase of four from the prior year. More specifically, RSES was the only school in the district with a population of EL students to count toward accountability. RSES received an overall score of 68.7 BLUE with a very high current status of 67.5, a 1.2 increase from the prior year.
All participating students in tested grades completed the Quality of School Climate and Safety Survey. One form was given to grades 3 through 5 and another form given to grades 6 through high school. The overall indicator scores and color ratings for schools follow: Russell County High School – 57 ORANGE; Russell County Middle School – 66.3 GREEN; Jamestown Elementary School – 72.2 ORANGE; Russell Springs Elementary School – 80.7 GREEN; and Salem Elementary School – 74.8 YELLOW. The current status of RCHS is 58.3 – low, with a -1.3 decrease. RCMS had an increase of .4 with a medium 65.9. A medium 74.6 current status for JES was a -2.4 decline from the prior year while a high 78.7 with an increase of 2 for RSES and a high 77.4, a -2.6 decline for SES are reflected.
Elementary, middle and high school survey items reflected positive results, as well as areas for growth, from students.
In summary, a single test score does not provide a complete or precise measure of student achievement, however, the Russell County School District is utilizing the information gained from the assessment as an important tool. The results, combined with local formative measures, experiences in the classroom and other non-academic indicators will be used to direct improvement plans. Multiple data sources regarding students, allow the district more opportunities to understand their needs and how to be equipped to help them succeed.
*All data for the 2022-2023 assessment and accountability reporting are included in a color-coded dashboard publicly available at https://kyschoolreportcard.com/.