Local schools receive

report cards

New Ulm

schools get

three-star rating

By MARTHA KRIENKE

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Jefferson and Washington Elementary Schools received their report cards from the state Thursday. Like the majority of most Minnesota elementary schools, they both received three out of five stars in the reading and math categories.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Education Commissioner Cheri Pierson Yecke unveiled the report cards at the State Fair this week. The report cards are a part of the federal No Child Left Behind Act. The report card, formatted like a brochure with charts and graphics, evaluates schools on academic achievement, academic opportunity, school safety, student participation, parent satisfaction and financial health.

Out of 921 Minnesota elementary schools, 604 schools got three stars in reading, and 649 schools got three stars in math. Fifty-three schools earned five stars in both categories. The star rating was based on students' scores on state third and fifth-grade math and reading tests.

To receive a four or five star rating, schools must meet certain criteria that include things like 10 percent or fewer students scoring at the lowest levels on the state test or performing among top 25 percent of comparable schools.

New Ulm Superintendent Harold Remme noted, "The manner in which the four and five star categories are defined make it impossible for all Minnesota schools to achieve such ratings."

Remme said people will naturally want to compare their school with others but be warned the report card does not give enough information to determine how well a school is really doing. "Education today is much more than simply reading and math even though they are very important educational skills," said Remme. "ISD 88 schools recognize the importance of educating the whole child and develop curriculum and instructional strategies which focus on that concept."

At this time, report cards are available for only elementary school and some middle school buildings if they include elementary grades, said Remme. Secondary schools will be included in the future, except a computer glitch has delayed the process.

The local school report card can be found on the Minnesota Department of Education website, http://education.state.mn.us.