MOUNT VERNON — Mount Vernon City School District got a school year’s worth of news on Monday. The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (DEW) released its annual School Report Cards based on data from last school year.
Based on a one-to-five-star scale, three Knox County schools received an overall four-star rating, and two schools received a 3.5-star rating.
The Knox County Career Center (KCCC) also received a five-star rating. However, the state calculates the KCCC’s rating using a different, unique system.
These report cards score districts and individual K-12 schools using standardized test scores, attendance rates and other categories.
“This year, more than 90% of districts earned overall ratings of three stars or higher​, meaning they met or exceeded state expectations for performance,” a DEW press release states.
The DEW also evaluates schools on how they prepare their students for their next steps. The metric now factors students’ college, career, military, and workforce readiness (CCMWR) into a school or district’s overall rating.
This year marks the first time the CCMWR metric counts toward a school or district’s overall rating.
The following is a breakdown of Mount Vernon’s report card and comments from Supt. Bill Seder.
last year’s report card breakdown
Knox County schools react to ODE report cards
MOUNT VERNON — The 2024 Statewide Report Card has been issued by the State Department of Education (ODE.) These report cards evaluate districts and individual schools using standardized test scores, attendance rates and other data from K-12 educational institutions. Districts and schools receive several scores, including an overall rating, on a one- to five-star scale.…
Mount Vernon schools by the numbers
Mount Vernon City Schools received an overall rating of 4 stars, including:
- Achievement: 4 stars
- Progress: 4 stars
- Gap Closing: 5 stars
- Graduation: 4 stars
- Early Literacy: 3 stars
- College, Career, Workforce and Military Readiness: 2 stars
While not part of the overall rating, the chronic absenteeism rate was 16.4%.
“Compared to last year, we saw nearly 80 fewer students identified as at-risk, moderate, or severe cases of absenteeism,” Mount Vernon Supt. Bill Seder said.
“Looking back two years, that number is down by 163 students. These reductions are a direct result of intentional strategies by our staff and the commitment of our families to prioritize consistent attendance.”
For more information, including specific stats for the elementary, middle and high school, click here.
Seder chimes in
Despite some improvements in the metrics, Mount Vernon’s overall rating did not increase. Yet, Seder is still proud of the most recent data in comparison to the previous report card.
“We were very pleased with our report card from last year, earning high marks in Progress, Gap Closing, Achievement, and our Overall grade,” Seder said. “To be compared against those strong results again this year is truly a compliment and one we are proud of.”
“Comparatively, we continue to perform at the 90% level of our similar cohort and significantly ahead of the state average.”
One of those metric improvements was in graduation.
“The difference between our four-star rating this year and the three stars we received last year came down to an improved graduation rate of two percentage points,” Seder said.
“While we are pleased with this improvement, we will never be satisfied until we reach a 100% graduation rate. We are committed to expanding pathways, providing interventions, reducing absenteeism, and closely monitoring the high number of students who enter and leave our district due to mobility and transiency.”
How the new CCMWR metric affects Mount Vernon
With the CCWMR metric taking effect across the state, Seder pointed out how he plans to improve Mount Vernon schools in the metric going forward.
“The College, Career, Workforce, and Military Readiness (CCWMR) component is an area where we know we must improve, and we are committed to doing so,” Seder said. “This is a new measure this year, and we need to fully understand how the rating is calculated and where we can best focus our efforts.”
However, Seder did mention some errors in the CCWMR data he observed in this year’s report card.
“Unfortunately, some of the data inputs were not accurate — for example, our report reflected ‘0’ students entering the military, which we know is incorrect given those who stood and were recognized at graduation,” Seder said.
“We have a very capable team reviewing this data to ensure accuracy and to help us strengthen opportunities and supports for all students as they prepare for life beyond graduation.”
Closing remark and middle school improvements
Overall, we are very pleased with our report card results. The credit belongs to our students, staff, and families for their dedication and hard work. When we as a district ‘exceed’ or ‘significantly exceed’ the state average, it gives us much to celebrate while also motivating us to keep striving for even greater success.
Mount Vernon Supt. Bill Seder
While Seder primarily focused on the district as a whole, he also expressed his happiness with the middle school improving by a star in each metric and a star in the overall rating.
“Through the hard work and efforts of administration and staff, the middle school has raised its grade designation in all areas by one star across the board,” Seder said. “When compared to our district, similar cohorts, Mount Vernon Middle School ranked in the top 10% of their cohort…well done.”