by Ellin Walsh
Reporter
Peninsula -- The Woodridge Local School District has earned the highest academic rating issued by the Ohio Department of Education on the 2008-09 state report card, the "Excellent with Distinction" designation.
The district had earned an "excellent" rating for the four prior years, according to Terri Sigler, Woodridge's director of curriculum and instruction. Sigler says the "Excellent with Distinction" designation is given to districts and schools which demonstrate high growth in students' performance for two consecutive years.
Woodridge met 29 of 30 performance indicators and all of its buildings, as well as the district overall, met the Adequate Yearly Progress goal.
Sigler said the district performed so well because its staff continues to collaborate as a K-12 team. According to Sigler, staff members analyze test results as soon as they're received and make necessary adjustments to the curriculum. The strategies are not new, according to Sigler, but Woodridge staff just continue to tweak them as necessary.
"Our primary goal was to improve math scores districtwide," Sigler said. "We implemented the Everyday Math Program at grades K-5 and also purchased new textbooks at grades 6-12. Our math scores did improve and significant gains were made at the intermediate grades."
"We're elated," School Board President Marilyn Hansen said, adding, "It's been a long struggle since before [Superintendent Dr.] Jeff Graham got here [in 2003], but it doesn't mean we can sit back and rest on our laurels."
"This is such a pinnacle to our administrative team and staff," School Board Vice President Melissa Wilkinson said. "There have been conscientious measures taken to identify and challenge our district to achieve this highest ranking. It is truly a collaboration of efforts from all the staff to see that our kids are being challenged and well prepared."
Sigler said the district's curriculum target area during the 2009-10 school year will be science.
E-mail: ewalsh@recordpub.com
Phone: 330-686-3908