Oshkosh School District Meets Expectations in Newly Released State Report Cards
Oshkosh School District Meets Expectations in Newly Released State Report Cards

The OASD continues to outpace the state in the area of growth for both English Language Arts and Mathematics, with strong performance at the high school level

On Tuesday, November 15, 2022, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction released the School and District Report Cards. The Oshkosh Area School District (OASD) earned an overall accountability score of “Meets Expectations” for the 2021-2022 school year. The District is pleased to announce that both Oshkosh North High School and Oshkosh West High School “Exceed Expectations”.  OASD high schools are continuing to demonstrate strong performance, focusing on student growth and high rates of student participation in the arts and dual enrollment courses. This recognition is a testament to the efforts of the entire District, school leaders, teachers, and staff members, as well as the incredible work and growth of OASD students and families.

The Oshkosh Area School District received an overall score of 68.7, which is a slight decrease from the 2020-2021 school year when it received a 69.9. The report card for districts and schools includes data on many indicators for multiple years across four priority areas: Student Achievement, District Growth, Target Group, and On-Track and Postsecondary Success. The District continues to make strong gains in the area of “District Growth,” where it scored 73.6 out of a possible 100 points, compared to the state average of 66.0 points.

Highlights from the recently released District and School Report Cards for the OASD include continuing to outpace the state in the area of growth for both English Language Arts and Mathematics, and continued strong performance at the high school level

Carl Traeger Middle School and ALPs Charter School “Significantly Exceed Expectations,” scoring 84.6 and 98.7 respectively. In addition to both high schools, the following eight OASD schools received the distinction of “Exceeds Expectations” - Carl Traeger Elementary, Emmeline Cook Elementary, Franklin Elementary, Lakeside Elementary, Oakwood Elementary, Perry Tipler Middle, Roosevelt Elementary, and Shapiro STEM Academy. Five schools within the OASD received a rating of “Meets Few Expectations”.  The five schools - Jefferson Elementary, Merrill Elementary, Merrill Middle, South Park Middle, and Webster Stanley Middle - had lower growth scores as compared to the rest of the district. 

The OASD is committed to using a multi-faceted and strategic approach to ensuring that every child succeeds, especially as it continues to work through learning disruptions and challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“In the OASD, we emphasize growth for all students,” stated Julie Conrad, OASD Director of Curriculum and Assessment. “We are committed to putting students first and ensuring that every student has effective instruction and resources, and the support they need to succeed.  OASD staff and students are resilient and persistent in the pursuit of achievement.” 

In response to student growth and performance data gaps in English Language Arts (ELA), the OASD has set rigorous reading goals in policy to establish a direct connection from the boardroom to the classroom. The OASD is engaged in the following strategies to improve student learning in ELA:

  • Monthly rapid cycles of improvement have been implemented in the District’s elementary literacy program to respond to the need of student skill development.
  • Student-centered coaching cycles provide support for District staff in implementing rapid cycles of improvement.
  • New literacy resources address phonological awareness, phonemic awareness, and letter identification, which are Science of Reading areas of emphasis being implemented into the District’s literacy programming.

School improvement planning in the OASD continues to focus on academics, as well as the social and emotional growth of each student. OASD administrators and professional staff have been examining school-level data and state assessment results to determine where instruction for students needs to be adjusted and enhanced. School improvement planning in response to low student growth and achievement was conducted over the summer of 2022 with an emphasis on strategies for students of color, students with disabilities, and English Learners. Strategies include changes in curriculum, additional instructional resources, and additional academic interventions as well as interventionists.  

State report cards serve as an accountability system for schools and districts. Each school within the OASD received a report card that measures their results of the Wisconsin Forward Exam, along with attendance rate, graduation rate, and performance on ACT Aspire as well as the ACT for high schools. Using numerous formulas and data sources, the State assigns a score and category for each school and district overall. The intention is for schools to use this information to identify areas for improvement and set goals for the future.  

“Students and schools are more than a single test or number,” explained Conrad. “This highlights the importance of focusing on the unique needs of each of our school communities. With this in mind, the OASD will continue to use assessment scores as one tool to help identify areas of strength and need for improvement, so that all students achieve their full potential.”  

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