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October 25, 2024
GLPS Families,
As we head into the last weekend of October, here at GLPS we are looking ahead to the end of the trimester. We have worked through some assessment cycles (NWEA and PSAT/NMSQT, for example), and we are using the data that we have to drive our instruction in the classroom, and make sure we are meeting our students’ needs. Next Friday, while students have the day after Halloween off, our staff will be hard at work, utilizing that data to adjust systemwide instructional practices and continuing their learning around how to create safe, welcoming, and engaging spaces for our students.
It is important to note that part of that work is not only understanding what our students are learning now, but also taking stock of last year’s progress, celebrating our successes, and using lessons learned to improve our practices this year. To those ends, and in response to the survey results from a few weeks ago in which you shared that the top item you want me to address is district celebrations, I want to share a few pieces of information with you today to celebrate the growth and success of our students, staff, and district.
NWEA - All of our students in grades BK-8, and some students at the high school, take the NWEA three times a year. This benchmark assessment aligns nicely with the MSTEP state test, but more importantly, it provides us with real time, actionable data that allows us to close gaps in students’ learning. For the 2023-2024 school year, across the district, GLPS’s growth in math from the fall to the spring was in the 70th percentile. As NWEA is a test given nationwide, that means that of all the districts in the country that take the test, GLPS students grew more than 70% of them! In addition, our spring math achievement, or overall scores, were in the 66th percentile, which means that GLPS scores are in the top ⅓ of all of the districts who take the test nationwide! Our literacy scores were a little lower, but still strong; we were in the 50th percentile for growth and 60th percentile for achievement. But, while we are still growing more than half of districts and achieving more than ⅗, we know we still have work to do, and that is why we continue using our data to improve our practices.
PSAT-SAT - While all high school students do not take the NWEA, most do take the PSAT and SAT, which are assessments that measure students’ ability to engage in complex tasks and critical thinking skills. Unlike the NWEA, these assessments are taken once a year, but we can track growth by cohort, from the PSAT 9 to the PSAT 10 to the SAT, which are taken in 9th, 10th, and 11th grades, respectively. We are proud of the growth that our students show through these assessments, and we typically far outpace the state average for growth from 9th through 11th grade. That means that on average, a student who attends Grand Ledge High School from 9th through 11th grade does not just achieve more, but grows more than the average student in the state of Michigan. For example, the average PSAT 10 score for this year’s seniors, as 10th graders, was a 957, while the state average was a 901. Then, on the SAT, the GLHS class of 2025’s average score was a 1013, while the statewide average was 945. So, the average score at Grand Ledge High School went up by 56 points, while the average score statewide went up by only 44. So, not only do our kids score well above the state average, but they also grow more, on average. The table below shows that the same trend is true in both the reading and math subcategories as well. We continue to strive to improve year in and year out, and although our scores are among the highest in the region, we use this data to get better and ensure that we are meeting our students’ needs, just as we do with our NWEA scores.
We know that our community values academic achievement and learning, and so I thought the timing was good to share some of the data that shows the success of GLPS, our staff, and our students. And, of course, that success only can happen with your support, and so we are very appreciative of you and your role as well. While test scores are only one measure of a district’s success, it is nice to pause and reflect on them sometimes, because they are a clear indicator that students are learning at a high level here. We are proud of the effort that everyone makes to help GLPS students learn and grow. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to work with you and your students every day, and thank you for your support.
As always, I am #proudtobeacomet!
Bill Barnes
Superintendent of Schools
