By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
The results of the 2023-24 school report card were a mixed bag for Glasgow Independent Schools.
Released by the Kentucky Department of Education, the report cards compiles individual school’s Kentucky Cumulative Assessment data. Glasgow Independent Schools had an overall performance rating of yellow — or middle of the five color rating scale — and much of the January board of education meeting was dedicated to outlining the district’s and schools’ paths forward in the wake of the data release.
Instructional Supervisor Tara Martin said the results varied from school to school and from content area to content area noting schools had “some declines but also some improvements” in reading, mathematics, science, social studies and combined writing test scores.
Rather than focus on the individual scores, which were discussed at the October board meeting, Martin focused on the overall needs assessment. Her first focus was on reading and writing scores. According to the report card data, only South Green Elementary scored above the statewide average.
With regards to the math, science and social studies scores, which similarly “varied” across the district, she said the middle and high school teachers are continuing to receive professional development in those areas and specifically in science teachers are using “inquiry-based” curriculum that aims to engage the students more.
One area of particular focus this year, Martin said, is “assisting [the districts] multilingual learners.” All four school principals in their presentations discussed briefly the changing district demographics and high school principal Joey Norman mentioned having a full-time English as a Second Language teacher to help the students be comfortable, and to make it easier for them to learn.
Based on the Department of Education data, Glasgow Independent Schools has 8.3 percent of students who are considered English learners.
Martin ended her presentation by saying the improvement plans focus on communicating with parent and stakeholders, which she said is helped by the new district website.
The schools’ principals also presented on their individual needs assessments. Highland Elementary School Principal Philip West wrote of the professional development of the teachers, “instructional round” — which involve observing classes then providing feedback — and having teachers observe high-performing educators and classes to learn instructional strategies.
South Green Elementary Principal Josh Turner echoed many of the same needs as West, but commented on the increase the elementary school had experienced in all categories. He said he was “very pleased to see that.” He said he would like to see math proficiency scores increase, which was at 51 percent based on the report card.
The school had the highest overall scores with a 76.1 in reading, a 70.9 in math, a 71.2 in science, 67.3 in social studies and a 77.4 in writing.
Justin Stinson, the principal at Glasgow Middle School, touched on his school’s writing scores, which were the highest between the five categories at a 70.9. He said the school was working to have students write in every subject with the idea of increasing understanding in the other categories as well through students’ proficiency in writing.
Rounding out the individual presentations, Norman said the high school was not in “autopilot” despite seeing an increase in the scores and discussed aligning the school’s improvement plan with that of the district’s and seeing what worked from the past year and what did not.
South Green Elementary and Glasgow High School had overall performance ratings of green, which is the second highest indicator. Highland Elementary came in at a yellow, as did the middle school.
