How can two ratings be so different? This past fall, DeSoto ISD received the official state ratings for the current accountability system – nine of ten campuses and the district Met Standard, meeting the state’s different requirements for public schools and districts. These ratings include standards in four Indexes: Student Achievement, Student Progress, Closing the Performance Gap, and Postsecondary Readiness. Standards vary by school grade level – elementary, middle, high - and for the ISD.
The state will soon release WHAT IF ratings, based on the proposed new standards that are still being unveiled to districts. The first four new Domains are similar to the current four Indexes, with a fifth Domain coming next year assessing three self-selected categories of the community engagement ratings. The new system will assign a letter grade A, B, C, D, or F, based on the scoring system for each Domain and for the campus and ISD as a whole.
However, DeSoto ISD received preliminary notification of the WHAT IF ratings with scores and assigned letter grades based on last year’s assessments and data that is not indicative of the work being done in our schools. Numerous campuses and the ISD, all who earned the Met Standard rating, received letter grades below average in various Domains based on 15-16 data.
How can a shift in the system and a modification in the scoring standard change a school to subpar or failing? And what benefit is there to a WHAT IF rating?
“We continue to wait for more information from TEA on the methodology of the new system, however, this continued attack on public schools, your DeSoto public schools, is an attack on the foundation of our country,” stated Dr. David Harris, Superintendent of Schools. “The government ‘ranking’ and comparing schools, feeds the agenda of those claiming our schools are failing and vouchers are the answer. Meanwhile, public schools tend to be underfunded and over mandated by the state and federal governments.”
The state announced that the rankings will also be on a ‘bell curve’ – meaning that while the majority of campuses and districts will be in the middle, only the highest will get As, and the lowest will get Ds and Fs – because someone needs to receive the lowest grade, not because that is what they earned. The ‘bell curve’ rewards those near the top and punishes those on the other end, while they may not be failing – which based on the current ratings, DeSoto schools are not.
DeSoto ISD has joined many other districts across the state calling for the repeal of a system not yet in place.
“I find that very disturbing to say one letter grade is going to explain the whole story behind our schools’ and our students’ academic progress,” said Dr. Harris. “I think a holistic approach is a better measure of how well we are doing. We will continue to prepare students academically and socially to be better citizens.”
The resolution notes that:
- despite A-F rating systems being implemented in 16 other states, there is no evidence that these systems have helped to improve student or school performance;
- the majority of the grades assigned by the A-F rating system will be based on students’ scores on the STAAR, a standardized test viewed as unreliable for accurately measuring student learning (an overwhelming majority of Texans recently surveyed by the State Board of Education have said they do not want standardized test scores to serve as the primary basis for Texas’ school accountability system);
- the system is flawed because:
- it requires a complex set of rules and calculations to combine a multitude of disparate measures into a single, “simple” letter grade that cannot be supported, are useless for providing feedback that could be used for improvement, and usually align with the wealth or poverty of the students in the school.
What is DeSoto ISD doing right?
DeSoto ISD has put numerous programs in place to guide students to career paths of their choice. The district has 15 innovative and magnet programs including two associates degree options in Early College High School and Collegiate Magnet Program. The district implemented iSTEAM from K through grade 12 with targeted programs at one elementary, all three middle schools and DeSoto High School. There are eight elementary and middle school magnet programs including fine arts, blended learning, linguistics, law, medical and leadership. DeSoto ISD also has one of the first full-day Pre-K programs in the area, reaching our youngest students early to establish a quality foundation.
These programs are producing top notch students who are competitive in higher education. The Class of 2016 earned over $4.3M in scholarships last year based on academics including both the valedictorian and salutatorian who earned scholarships to Stanford! In addition, eight students earned full rides to TCU through the Community Scholars program, plus we had academic scholarships to West Point, Georgetown, Morehouse, Baylor, North Texas, Texas State and much more!
Student-athletes, who must not only meet academic requirements to be accepted into colleges but also maintain them for eligibility while also fulfilling team requirements, excel in college as so many have done before them. The football team had 18 Academic All-State players this year alone! Twenty-five DHS grads are currently playing football for FBS college programs with five alum on current NFL rosters. Basketball alum includes two current Duke players and a dozen more at other colleges. Volleyball includes Florida, Kansas, UT, and other top ranked programs. Track include record holders and NCAA competitors from OSU, UT, TCU, and more.
Additional Accolades:
- The JROTC Eagle Battalion has five units with just under 200 students – one of the largest units around and produces cadets prepared for officer programs across the nation.
- The business program continues to rise with two students earning state recognition for web and network design.
- The Choral Department continues to impress with state and national awards. The A Cappella choir is amazing with eight students advancing to the state last year!
- Robotics and engineering students work together to create a solar car for competitions.
- Culinary students regularly cater area events, participate in community showcases and compete in local, regional and the National Restaurant Association ProStart Competition.
- Mock Trial team is sending two teams to State this year after qualifying at the area event.
- Students regularly win contests from graphics and video to essays and fine arts.