In a recent government meeting, officials discussed the latest updates on academic performance and growth metrics within the Clover Park School District, emphasizing the importance of student growth over proficiency levels. Brian Gable, the director of assessment and evaluation, presented data from the Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA) and highlighted changes to the Washington State Report Card.

Gable explained that the focus should shift from merely assessing students' proficiency levels to understanding how much they grow during their time in school. He introduced the concept of Student Growth Percentiles (SGP), which ranks students based on their growth compared to peers with similar starting scores. An SGP of 66 or higher indicates high growth, while scores below 33 suggest low growth.

The meeting also addressed demographic challenges faced by the district, noting that Clover Park serves a significantly higher percentage of military and low-income students compared to state averages. Gable pointed out that these factors correlate with lower proficiency rates, but he stressed that growth metrics provide a clearer picture of educational effectiveness.

Data presented showed that while overall proficiency levels have declined post-pandemic, certain grades, particularly fifth grade, demonstrated significant growth in English Language Arts (ELA). Gable praised the efforts of teachers and schools that achieved above-average growth, particularly highlighting Park Lodge School, which has shown remarkable improvement.

The discussion concluded with a commitment to further investigate successful practices at high-performing schools to replicate their success across the district. Gable assured that parents receive reports detailing their children's growth, including video explanations to enhance understanding.

Overall, the meeting underscored a proactive approach to addressing educational challenges and celebrating growth achievements within the Clover Park School District.