CHECK BACK FOR UPDATES. CLICK HERE TO SEE GRADES FOR SPECIFIC SCHOOLS. 2013 A-F SCHOOL ACCOUNTABILITY GRADES FOR ALL INDIANA SCHOOLS After delays over a scandal involving former Supt. Dr. Tony Bennett, and delays concerned the problems conducting the 2013 ISTEP tests online, the State Board of Education and the Indiana Department of Education have finally released the A-F Accountability grades for every Indiana Public Schools and for many private schools that are state accredited. The A-F system, has endured controversy since it was introduced last October by former Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Tony Bennett. For elementary and middle schools, the A-F grades incorporate ISTEP test data and other data to compute a school’s score. Including the controversial measurement of those schools students growth against growth by students statewide. For high schools, the A-F grades incorporate graduation rates, student performance on their End of Course Completing (ECA) tests and other data. For traditional public schools in Indianapolis/Marion County, the 2013 A-F Accountability grades show some progress, especially a reduction in the number of schools that received an “F” grade. In 2013 just 28 schools received “F” grades compared to 36 in 2012. But the number of charter schools in Indianapolis receiving “F” grades rose to 7 in 2013, compared to 4 in 2012. Including charters, the number of schools receiving an “F” grade in Indianapolis decline by just five schools in 2013 compared to 2012. The controversial A-F Grading System again this year features wild year-to-year grade swings. One of the biggest shockers concerned Indianapolis charter school Christel House Academy South. That was the school that state officials changed the original 2012 A-F grade from a “C” to an “A”. But in a stunner, the school’s 2013 grade is an “F”. Another surprise were Speedway’s public schools which in 2012 all the schools were graded “A”. This year, none of Speedway’s six schools earned that grade. The four schools taken over by the state in the 2012-2013 school year which are now supervised by the Mayor’s Charter School Office (Arlington, Howe, Manual High Schools and Emma Donnan Middle School) all received “F” grades. Northwest High School is the only Indianapolis/Marion County regular high school to receive an “F”. Franklin Central, Ben Davis University, Crispus Attucks and Herron High Schools are the only ones in Indy to receive an “A” grade. Below is a Summary of the grades earned by each school corporation and group of charter schools in Indianapolis/Marion County. The grade summaries for 2013 are shown, compared with 2012 grades.
Decatur Township Schools: 2013 – A-0; B-1; C-3; D-4; F-1; 2013 – A-0; B-0; C-2; D-6; F-1 / Franklin Township Schools: 2013 – A-7; B-2. 2012 – A8; B-1 /Lawrence Township Schools: 2013 – A-3; B-8; C-4; D-0; F-1; 2012 – A-4; B-5; C-2; D-3; F-1 / Perry Township Schools: 2013 – A-6; B-5; C-4; D-2; F-0. 2012 – A-5; B-2; C-7; D-2; F-1 / Pike Township Schools: 2013 – A-2’ B-4; C-4; D-3; F-0. 2012 – A-2; B-1; C-5; D-3; F-2 / Warren Township Schools: 2013 A-6; B-4; C-5; D-2; F-0. 2012 – A-4; B-3; C-7; D-3 / Washington Township Schools: 2013 – A-3; B-3; C-3; D-2; F-0. 2012 – A-2; B-1; C-4; D-2; F-2 / Wayne Township Schools: 2013 – A-2; B-1; C-6; D-4; F-4; 2012 – A-2; B-3; C-4; D-5; F-2 / Beech Grove Schools: 2013 – A-0; B-3; C-2; D-0; F-0. 2012 – A-0; B-4; C-1; D-0; F-0 / Speedway Schools: 2013 – A-3; B-1; C-3; D-0; F-0. 2012 – A-6; B-0; C-0; D-0; F-0/ Indianapolis Public Schools: 2013 – A-10; B-8; C-9; D-16; F-22. 2012 – A-10; B-7; C-7; D-14; F-26 / Mayor Charter Schools: 2013 – A-6; B-0; C-5; D-4; F-4. 2012 – A-6; B-3; C-4; D-3; F-2 / Ball State Charter Schools: 2013 – A-0; B-0; C-1; D-3; F-2. 2012 – A-0; B-2; C-1; D-2; F-1 / All Charter Schools: 2013 – A-6; B-0; C-6; D-7; F-7. 2012 – A-6; B-5; C-5; D-5; F-4
Commenting on the A-F grades for the entire state, current Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz said, “I want to thank Indiana’s educators, administrators, parents, and most importantly, students for their patience and countless hours of work over the last academic year. Due to problems caused by the company that administered the ISTEP, these 2012-13 school accountability grades were unfortunately delayed until this point. Though this current model for calculating school accountability grades will be changing, the data does show that some great learning is occurring in our schools, and I want to congratulate our students for their successes. ” The 2013-14 school year will be the last year for our current model. As Superintendent, I am excited that our new model for school accountability will measure both student performance and growth in a way that gives our educators, students, and parents the needed information to address each student’s academic needs. The new, more transparent and fair model will be fully operational for the 2014-15 school year.” Commenting on the uneven pertformance of Indianapolis charter schools suprvised by the Mayor’s Charter School Office, Deputy Mauor for Education Jason Kloth said, “In 2013, five Mayor-sponsored charter schools improved their accountability grade, while six declined. We’re pleased to see significant growth for students at Flanner House Elementary, as well as improved performance at Challenge Foundation Academy, Indiana Math and Science Academy North, Indianapolis Metropolitan High School, and Andrew Academy. Schools that received a “D” or “F” are participating in IDOE’s focus and priority school improvement process. Our office is supporting this effort and is in regular communication with these schools.” Regarding the poor perfolrmance of Christel House Academy, Kloth said, “Christel House continues to meet or exceed the vast majority of indicators on our performance framework. Parents indicate high levels of satisfaction, and a large number of families are on the school’s waiting list. Christel House remains a high-quality option for students and families in Indianapolis.”
