Garrard County Schools Advance in State Assessments
On October 31, 2023, the Kentucky Department of Education published the Kentucky Summative Assessment (KSA) data, offering an insightful glimpse into the performance of Garrard County Schools. This comprehensive assessment system evaluates various aspects of school performance, including state assessment results in core subjects, quality of school climate and safety, graduation rates, and more.
The KSA data reveals key insights into the achievements of Garrard County's five schools. The accountability system's six core indicators serve as a roadmap for measuring school performance:
State assessment results in reading and mathematics.
State assessment results in science, social studies, and writing.
English learner progress.
Quality of school climate and safety.
Postsecondary readiness (for high schools only).
Graduation rate (for high schools only).
To help communicate performance levels, the Kentucky Department of Education employs a color rating system, ranging from Blue (highest) to Red (lowest). We are proud to share that Garrard County Schools experienced growth at each level, with some schools achieving impressive overall performance ratings.
Superintendent Mr. Kevin Stull stated, "The Kentucky Summative Assessment results show growth in all five Garrard County Schools. That doesn’t happen without hard work by teachers and support staff, along with student commitment. The results are just one indicator of how the teachers and staff in Garrard County are passionate about student success. We know we still have work to do to continue the positive strides. However, it is great to celebrate the growth all five schools saw this past year. I’m confident we will continue to see more growth and success this coming year. I am grateful to all the Garrard County School staff for their commitment to leading student learning, and I applaud them for their positive results."
Elementary Success Highlights: Our elementary schools demonstrated progress, reflecting the dedication of our students, educators, and staff.
Camp Dick Robinson Elementary: This school elevated its overall rating from Yellow to Green, demonstrating substantial growth in Reading and Math, as well as a significant improvement in the Quality of School Climate and Safety indicator.
Paint Lick Elementary: Paint Lick Elementary experienced success with increases in indicator ratings for Reading and Math. Moreover, they achieved a notable Blue rating for the Quality of School Climate and Safety indicator, signifying the highest level of safety and climate quality.
Lancaster Elementary: Lancaster Elementary boosted its overall performance rating from Orange to Yellow, a remarkable achievement. They also managed to drop their federal classification as a target support and improvement (TSI) school. Their notable successes include improvements in the Reading and Math indicators and an increase in the Quality of School Climate and Safety rating.
Director of Elementary Teaching and Learning, Mrs. Holly Young, says, “Our elementary schools' performance on the state assessments is inspiring. I'm proud to witness the significant progress made by each school. What excites me the most is our commitment to continuous improvement. Our focus remains on creating the best learning opportunities for our students, and this achievement motivates us to reach for even greater success.”
Middle School and High School Achievements: Garrard County's middle and high schools also achieved commendable progress.
Garrard Middle School: GMS maintained its overall rating of Yellow and improved in Reading and Math. While they remain a target support and improvement (TSI) school for Disability, the improvements they have made in academic performance are notable.
Garrard County High School: The high school's success story is underscored by an upgrade in their overall rating from Yellow to Green. This achievement was complemented by an increased graduation rate and enhanced postsecondary readiness scores, reflecting a commitment to student success.
Director of Secondary Teaching and Learning, Mr. Larry Caudill, says, “We are pleased to achieve gains in graduation rates, post-secondary readiness, and combined reading and math scores. Our high school school's state rating has moved from yellow to green, reflecting our commitment to student success and academic excellence. In regards to Garrard Middle School, I want to start by acknowledging our dedicated students, teachers, and parents for their hard work and commitment. Our recent test scores, while not meeting our initial expectations, do have some positive aspects. We observed a slight increase in combined reading and math scores, showcasing the efforts put in by both our students and educators. Additionally, I am pleased to report that our school maintained its overall rating without declining. We are determined to build upon these strengths and work collaboratively to further improve the learning experience for our students.”
The Kentucky Summative Assessments are rooted in the state's academic standards, providing a comprehensive measure of student proficiency and progress. Garrard County's educational community has demonstrated resilience, determination, and unwavering commitment to our students, consistently striving to provide an excellent education. We are excited about the progress that these results represent and look forward to continuing our pursuit of educational excellence.
Our heartfelt thanks go to the dedicated students, parents, administrators, school board members, teachers, bus drivers, custodians, cafeteria staff, support staff, and community members. These achievements would not be possible without the collective effort of the entire community and, most importantly, our devoted students.
Garrard County Schools is providing district highlights of state assessment data, click here to view full school report card.