Academic Success
Why does it matter?
Specific moments in a child’s development are clear indicators of their continued and future success within the system. Reading at the third-grade level and success in seventh-grade math, for instance, can indicate that a child is on track to graduate on time from high school. Student retention and chronic absenteeism similarly can show issues within a child’s environment.
Altogether, measuring a student’s performance at these stages shows how our children are developing, indicating their ability to perform in classes beyond high school. They can likewise show us where students are struggling and what to consider when planning actionable steps.
Where are we now?
Reading at the third grade level and success in seventh-grade math can indicate that a child is on track to graduate on time from high school. Student retention and chronic absenteeism likewise can show issues within a child’s environment. Altogether, measuring a student’s performance at these stages shows how our children are developing, indicating their ability to perform in classes beyond high school. They can likewise show us where students are struggling and what to consider when planning actionable steps.
How do we measure it?
Academic success is measured on test scores, retention rates and overall academic completion.
- 1st Graders Retained: “Retention Rates by District, Final Survey 5,” Florida Department of Education, retrieved from https://www.fldoe.org.
- 3rd Grade Reading: “Spring Florida Standards Assessments English Language Arts Grade 3 District Results,” Florida Department of Education, retrieved from https://www.fldoe.org.
- 7th Grade Math: “Spring Florida Standards Assessments Mathematics Grade 7 School Results,” Florida Department of Education, retrieved from https://www.fldoe.org.
- Chronically Absent: “Students Absent 21 or More Days and Absent 10% or More Comparison , Final Survey 5,” Florida Department of Education, retrieved from https://www.fldoe.org.
- Middle School Students Retained: “Retention Rates by District, Final Survey 5,” Florida Department of Education, retrieved from https://www.fldoe.org.
- Post-secondary Award by Institution : “Educational Attainment (S1501),” U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, retrieved from https://data.census.gov.
- Post-secondary Award: “Educational Attainment (S1501),” U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, retrieved from https://data.census.gov. Emsi Burning Glass – economicmodeling.com.
- Primary and Intermediate School Completion: “Educational Attainment (S1501),” U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, retrieved from https://data.census.gov. Emsi Burning Glass – economicmodeling.com.
What call to action is linked to this indicator?
Escambia County School District Superintendent Dr. Timothy Smith has called upon his administrators, teachers and staff, as well as the community at large, to focus on and direct attention to the disparity of school success between students of different races. Nothing short of eliminating that gap will be considered success. Citizens can volunteer to tutor children or support after-school educational programs. Several community-based programs exist to provide additional support to the students who need it the most. School districts keep contact information for these services.