Cd'A schools: Leaders in Idaho
Too often we hear negative news about education issues nationally and statewide. Rarely do we hear the positive facts about how well Coeur d'Alene students are doing locally. Just as we expect performance standards for our classrooms, the same data can be used to measure a district's value for a community. When we are asked to make an investment in our children, I believe it is imperative we ask ourselves, "Are we providing the right support and how are we examining measurable success?" Let me share with you my view of the student achievement in Coeur d'Alene's public schools.
I believe our local successes are directly linked to the incredible community support our local school system receives. As a district leader and as a parent, I am keenly aware that our community expects a quality education for every child in ways that are innovative and worthy of our investment of our tax dollars.
Throughout the Coeur d'Alene School District, there are many benchmarks where our students outperform state and national averages. Our elementary students not only meet - but they exceed - the Idaho Reading Indicator benchmark averages for our state. Reading comprehension and fluency is a key component for later success in education and in life. Our consistent strength in the early grades is reflected later on as our students get older, which I believe provides a strong foundation for college and career.
At other higher grade levels, we see numerous key points of information that indicate our students receive a quality local education worthy of continued support.
1. Our local students have outscored all other large districts in Idaho on the Idaho Standards Achievement Test (ISAT) since 2011, and we consistently exceed state averages overall.
2. Our students continue to outperform our statewide peers on the SAT and the ACT in preparation for college readiness.
3. The number of Advanced Placement students scoring at a 3 or above is higher than state and national scores.
4. The rate of our students that go on to college directly from our local high schools is higher than state and national averages.
5. The percentage of Coeur d'Alene students who obtain a college level degree is higher than that of their peers statewide and nationally.
6. Students in District 271 have a lesser college dropout rate than both the state and the nation.
The impact of strong local education, especially in Idaho where we hear too often that we shouldn't fail our students, is that we gain a competitive edge for our students and our economy.
Our community investment in our children has enabled our district to support numerous programs that help prepare all students. With 1 out of every 5 dollars coming directly from our local community, we are able to invest in our students in ways that go beyond what the state and federal government provides in funding.
We can support programs that provide added value such as advanced classes for our higher achieving students, alternative programs that help our struggling students graduate with a high school diploma plus provide job-readiness certifications that are attractive to local employers, special education services and support, as well as extra-curricular activities that provide opportunities to continually engage our students that go beyond the classroom.
The levy election on March 10th is important. Not only are we being asked to endorse our district's vision but we are also being asked to support a plan to improve upon our performance. The district's multiyear approach to lowering class sizes and the multiyear plan to provide up-to-date curriculum materials are essential for providing the tools our students need for future beneficial returns.
I view the Coeur d'Alene School District as a leader in our state. Is there room for improvement? Always. Which is why we need to continue to strategically make the right investment for our students to provide a quality education that our community demands and our children deserve.
Christa Hazel is chairwoman of the Coeur d'Alene School Board.