By JuLee Rudolf
and Scott Gray Smith
The Whidbey News-Times article regarding North Whidbey Middle School scores, if anything, understates the situation. The Washington State Achievement Index places NWMS last of 191 middle schools with similar enrollment (400 to 800) and low income rate (27 to 67 percent).
Although four years ago NWMS scores were comparable to local schools, they have since dropped dramatically while others have risen. These trends are disappointing to NW-zoned parents like us, who proudly sent our kids to CHE (which also had relatively good scores four years ago) where they had outstanding homeroom teachers and we were very engaged as PTA leaders. After observing environmental and leadership issues at NWMS, we transferred our kids to the Anacortes School District this year. An increasing lack of district-wide academic focus made our decision easier.
We completely agree with Peter Hunt, school board member, who we highly respect, that “there is a system problem that requires urgent action, not excuses.” Anacortes provides a great blueprint for success. With nearly identical low income percentages as the OHSD, ASD students score dramatically higher across the board.
We attribute this to their “Students First” culture of high expectations, total accountability (students, teachers, parents) and strong leadership. All ASD students are expected to pass the MSP and parents are promptly alerted through brutally honest assessments if their children are not making adequate academic progress. In the OHSD, however, we were aware of parents who were shocked at their children failing MSP tests after receiving high grades in the same subjects.
On accountability, ASD aggregates student progress data to measure teacher and school performance. Teachers are very aware of their “stats” and do the little things to help their students achieve academic success. And the ASD evaluates staff on a three-tiered system (satisfactory, needs improvement, and unsatisfactory), versus the OHSD’s two-tiered system.
The biggest contrast, though, is in leadership. OHSD leaders frequently make excuses for or sugar-coat poor test results. The favored, subtle excuse is “we can’t expect transient, low income military kids to compete with their state peers.” The truth is, today’s E-5 sailor makes over $50,000 when including all benefits (thus low income rates are inflated in the OHSD); often experienced higher performing schools at their last duty station; and knows the importance of education firsthand: He or she will not advance to E-7 without a college degree. These patriots want, and deserve, a quality education for their children as much as anyone else does.
We were heartened by Dr. Gibbon’s recent acknowledgement in the same Whidbey News-Times article that the situation is “urgent.” We want our kids to return to the OHSD, but realize that making systemic “Students First” changes will be difficult given many entrenched “Adults First” priorities. Consequently, we have started a Students First Oak Harbor Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=hpskip#!/pages/Students-First-Oak-Harbor/156313184430534.
This page is patterned after the national effort, where parents, teachers, and leaders can collaborate around real assessments and improvement priorities that can be shared with the school board and district. We can, and must, improve academic results now and we ask that you share your thoughts at the Students First Oak Harbor Page.
JuLee Rudolf and Scott Gray Smith live in Oak Harbor.
