Trigg County Schools and its officials joined in with the Commonwealth’s educators this week, finely combing over data revealed in the Kentucky Department of Education’s annual Summative Assessment.
And though districts have possession of several audit details every August, late October and early November typically end up as high-gravity, anticipated times for teachers and administrators — hoping state benchmarks have been met in a number of categories through the previous year.
Moving from a critical red mark, through orange, yellow, green and finally a serene blue, Trigg’s educators also have to make note of a change score and grading rubric — one that changed in just the last six months.
A good news snapshot of the past year at TCS looks like this:
— Behind an overall 58.8, Trigg County Intermediate earned a yellow designation, and is no longer labeled as a targeted support and improvement school for special needs . A quality of school culture survey showed significant gains over the last 12 months, while increased reading, writing and math scores were lauded.
— At Trigg County Middle School, a yellow designation was missed by seven-tenths of a point at 50.3. The Midcats are no longer a TSI-labeled-school, and African American students significantly increased reading and math proficiency scores. Furthermore, as leaders track specific classes, last year’s eighth grade math students moved from 9.6% proficient and distinguished as sixth graders, to 42.6% proficient and distinguished just before high school. Seventh grade mathematics improved their proficient and distinguished population by 1.7%, and writing stayed at 45%.
— For Trigg County High School, a 61.2 equated to a yellow designation. There was a proven increase in combined science/social studies/writing scores, post-secondary readiness and graduation percentage. And in the Class of 2023, all but six were declared prepared for that readiness, and they reduced novice scores in all four tested subjects.
Another key celebration for TCHS: average ACT composite score. One of the most integral aptitude and general knowledge tests for college, Trigg posted a 19.8 median, more than a point higher than the state’s 17.8 median in 2022-23.
Furthermore, the district specifically earned blue tags in school climate and safety at the elementary school, as well as in social studies/combined writing/science and post-secondary readiness at the high school.
TCS Superintendent Bill Thorpe noted there was one particular success a bit more hidden in the data.
Thorpe also noted that, historically, Trigg County is perfectly position geographically for educational success.
Matt Boehman, who has returned to the district as assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, further clarified that KDE’s change scores were once again recalibrated this past summer — assigning stiff point penalties for declination between incoming and outgoing students, and large rewards for minor and major increases in grade level-to-grade level aptitude and skill.
Boehman, Thorpe and Director of Pupil Personnel James Mangels also pointed to one very important factor as to why scores in core curriculum have begun rebounding district-wide at all four campuses.
Expectations of in-person attendance. For everyone.
Where Trigg County is looking to see improvement this year, and the following, stems from:
— An orange assessment and a red assessment, respectively, in a school climate and safety survey for the middle and high schools;
— And a red assessment in reading and mathematics at the high school.
TCPS and its school leadership will convene for a public meeting to discuss all of the KDE data at its next board meeting November 9.
TRIGG COUNTY: https://www.kyschoolreportcard.com/organization/5674?year=2023
