Charles City schools targeted for improvement by state

By Travis Fischer, tkfischer@charlescitypress.com

The Iowa Department of Education’s 2024 School Performance Profiles have lowered the rating category of Charles City’s public schools.

The annual “report card” for Iowa’s public schools assesses overall performance of school districts and identifies areas where schools may be struggling.

Based on assessments from the 2024 school year, the district’s school buildings have all been reduced to a lower category, with the Middle School being rated as “Needs Improvement” and the High School and Lincoln Elementary being rated as a “Priority” school.

“We moved lower by at least one level in all areas,” said Superintendent Dr. Brian Burnight.

Washington Elementary was not identified as needing targeted support, but was also rated as “Priority” due to that building and Lincoln Elementary sharing the elementary school rating as far as the state assessments are concerned.

Burnight says that the change in the schools’ ratings are not necessarily due to a material difference in student performance between 2024 and prior years, but can be attributed to a change in the way that the state factors the performance of demographic subgroups into its overall evaluation.

Previously, schools with significant subgroups of students – such as students living in poverty, non-English speaking students, racial minorities and students with Individualized Educational Plans – did not have those subgroups counted against the district’s overall rating. This year that has changed.

“We do have subgroups that this year didn’t quite make the growth the state said was needed,” said Burnight.

He said the district will be redoubling efforts to provide individualized support to underperforming students, making sure that teachers are coordinating to ensure those targeted students are getting the support they need.

“We want to really make it personal and make sure our teachers know these kids need more support,” said Burnight. “We’re going to focus so that all students can be successful, but putting a spotlight on our targeted students to make sure they can be all they can.”

In overall performance, Charles City schools rank below the state average across the board, with each building scoring between 51-54% in assessment ratings where the state average is 60.95%.

One area where the district did excel was in post-secondary readiness for work-based learning, performing well above average in the number of students participating in work-based programs.

While in general, the district performed below average in proficiency in science, math and English, the district did see above average growth in mathematics skills during the last school year.

Chronic Absenteeism, a new assessment metric factored by the state, is also an area where the district struggles. Almost 28% of students missed more than 10% of the school days they were enrolled, higher than the 21.63% state average.

The “Priority” and “Needs Improvement” ratings for the schools means that the state will be paying increased attention to how the district is working to foster growth in its underperforming demographics.

“If you are targeted, you get some additional resources and then you have to put together a plan for how students can raise their achievements,” said Burnight. “We’re going to own that and make sure those students can reach those achievements.”