2024 School Performance Profile
November 20, 2024
Superintendent Fenster recently shared the outstanding results of Southwest Valley School District in the latest Iowa School Performance Profile, which evaluates public schools based on required federal and state accountability measures. The Iowa School Performance Profiles were created to comply with both the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and House File 215, passed by Iowa lawmakers in 2013. This tool includes data on key measures such as student proficiency, growth, and absenteeism, and assigns ratings based on performance.
Southwest Valley School District Results:
- Enarson Elementary: Exceptional (highest rating)
- Corning Elementary: Acceptable
- Middle School: Commendable
- High School: Acceptable
Superintendent Fenster praised the achievements, noting that the district's success is a direct result of the hard work and dedication from both staff and students.
Statewide Performance:
The 2024 report also highlights that 377 schools in Iowa need targeted support and improvement due to achievement gaps experienced by certain student groups, including those eligible for free or reduced-price meals, English learners, students with disabilities, and students from various racial or ethnic groups. This year, 106 schools were newly identified for support, while 271 schools were flagged last year as needing either comprehensive or targeted improvement.
Notably, 93% of these schools were identified because students with disabilities performed below the level of the lowest 5% of all schools. Additionally, a smaller number of schools were identified for gaps among students from low-income backgrounds or racial/ethnic groups like Black/African American, Hispanic, or Multi-Racial students.
Key Performance Metrics:
In addition to ESSA accountability measures, the state now includes several updated performance indicators:
- Student proficiency and growth
- Chronic absenteeism and attendance growth
- High school metrics such as graduation rates and a postsecondary readiness indicator that tracks college credits earned, work-based learning experiences, and industry-recognized credentials attained by high school students.
Not one of Southwest Valley's schools are among those requiring targeted support, highlighting the district's strong performance. For further details on the statewide results, you can view the full press release here.
