The Kentucky School Report Card for the 2022-2023 school year has been released, and officials at Union County Public Schools are encouraged to see improved student achievement scores at all school levels in the district including elementary, middle, and high school.
The School Report Card provides information about each school in various academic categories and also reports an overall performance rating for each school. Union County elementary schools earned an overall performance score of 55.4, an improvement of 6.5 points from the previous year. Union County Middle School earned an overall score of 45.2, improving 3.5 points. Union County High School earned an overall score of 71.0, a jump of 10.4 points from the previous year.
The Kentucky Department of Education also uses five different color-coded performance levels to indicate schools’ achievement (Red=Very Low, Orange=Low, Yellow=Medium, Green=High, Blue=Very High). For the 2022-2023 School Report Card, Union County elementary schools earned a combined Yellow rating, Union County Middle School earned an Orange rating, and Union County High School earned a Green rating.
“Our educators are unwavering in their commitment to fostering growth and progress,” reflected Superintendent Patricia Sheffer. “We’re proud of our areas of strength and remain steadfast in our efforts to maximize their potential. Concurrently, we wholeheartedly embrace growth challenges, directly addressing them as part of our ongoing mission to inspire the champion within every student.”
A closer look at the report card information shows how schools performed in specific areas of achievement. At the elementary level, the overall accountability score is determined by three areas: 1) Reading and Math, 2) Science, Social Studies, and Writing, and 3) Quality of School Climate and Safety. Union County elementary schools showed overall combined improvement in all three areas, earning a Yellow indicator for Reading and Math and a Green indicator for Science, Social Studies, and Writing. Those ratings are based on students’ performance on the Kentucky Summative Assessment from May 2023. The combined elementary score for the Quality of School Climate and Safety earned a Green rating. That score is based on student survey data from May 2023 about their perceptions of their school.
Individually, Morganfield Elementary School earned an overall score of 58.6, an increase of 10.8 points from the previous year, and improved their rating from Orange to Yellow. Sturgis Elementary School earned an overall score of 56.9, a slight decrease of 2.3 points from the previous year, but maintained a Yellow rating. Uniontown Elementary maintained the same Orange rating from the previous year but showed a substantial improvement of 11.6 points to raise the school’s overall score to 50.7.
Dr. Tamala Howard, Assistant Superintendent of Academic Services, reflected on the progress displayed in Union County’s elementary schools. “We are encouraged by the improvement we’re seeing in many areas but realize there is still work to be done. We are committed to taking progressive and aggressive steps to address the learning deficits in our district similar to other districts across the state and country.”
At the middle school level, the overall accountability score is determined by the same three areas as the elementary schools. At Union County Middle School, Reading and Math scores dropped slightly by 0.8 points from the previous year but maintained the same Orange rating. Scores for Science, Social Studies, and Writing increased by 8.2 points and improved from the Orange to the Yellow rating. For the Quality of School Climate and Safety indicator, UCMS earned the same score of 57.6 as the previous year, remaining in the Red designation.
Union County Middle School principal Cory Coble says school staff members had already identified school climate as an area needing improvement before the start of the school year. They’ve put many initiatives in place this school year to improve the culture and are already seeing positive signs. “We’re working tirelessly to put relationships first and build a positive school culture driven by belonging, passion, and a commitment to excellence,” Mr. Coble shared. “We can provide high-quality instruction while developing young people into adults by loving, knowing, and leading them.”
At the high school level, the overall score is determined by the same categories as the elementary/middle school scores plus two additional areas of Graduation Rate and Postsecondary Readiness. In Reading and Math, UCHS showed 10.6 points of improvement from the previous year and received the Green rating. In Science, Social Studies, and Writing, UCHS received the Yellow indicator, increasing the score slightly from the previous year by 0.4 points to 44.4. The Quality of School Climate and Safety score improved by 5 points to 59.5 to earn a Yellow rating. While the reported Graduation Rate dropped 5.2 points to 88.5, District Assessment Coordinator Shawn Winders noted that there were mistakes in the state-reported data for that category. Once the Kentucky Department of Education corrects those mistakes in the next few weeks, he expects the reported graduation rate to rise.
The most significant improvement in the UCHS accountability data came in the category of Postsecondary Readiness. The school saw a jump of 25.6 points to a score of 109.4, earning a Blue (Very High) rating. That rating indicates the level to which 2023 graduates demonstrated they were ready to succeed after high school. The score was impacted by student achievement on exams such as ACT, AP, KYOTE, and Career & Technical Education (CTE) End-of-Program Assessments. Students also gained postsecondary readiness status by earning industry certifications aligned with CTE programs or by demonstrating their readiness through authentic work-based learning experiences.
“We’re thrilled to see such dramatic improvement in Postsecondary Readiness,” shared UCHS principal Amy Nelson. “That Blue rating is a testament to the dedication of our students and staff. We’re committed to staying strong in that area and working hard to see the same type of improvement in all academic areas.”
Union County Public Schools staff members are encouraged by the overall improvement shown in the recently-released accountability data and look forward to using the information to continue growing. They will now closely study these results along with assessment results being gathered this school year to find ways to further enhance their instructional strategies and services.
Several initiatives are already being implemented district-wide to strengthen and enhance teaching and learning as well as the social and emotional well-being for students and staff. For instance, all schools are utilizing the Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports (PBIS) Framework to promote positive student behavior and well-being. All UCPS schools are also engaging in Close the Gap-KY, an in-depth professional learning and coaching collaboration to develop, implement, and sustain a system of evidence-based practices intended to ensure all students learn at high levels.
Another initiative is the development of a Deeper Learning Team composed of elementary, middle, and high school teachers charged with the task of leading their colleagues in creating learning environments that encourage students to think critically, communicate effectively, and work with others across all subjects. Students learn to self-direct their own education and to adopt what is known as ‘academic mindsets’ to be lifelong learners. Reflecting on these initiatives, Dr. Howard shared, “I’m genuinely excited for the passionate work of our teachers and staff and their commitment to the students of Union County.”
Echoing those sentiments, Mrs. Sheffer shared her excitement and expectations for continued progress across the district. “We’re focused on keeping the main thing the main thing – delivering quality education while prioritizing the well-being of our students and staff,” she highlighted. “Together, we remain steadfast in expanding the horizons of our students and nurturing a bright future for the children of our county, who are our most valuable resource.”
