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District 21 reports gains in MAP scores, launches math pilot and expands attendance supports
Summary
Administrators reported midyear MAP improvements in reading and math, launched a K–5 math pilot (Amplified Desmos) in 90 classrooms, expanded STEM Project Lead The Way grants at the elementary level, and deployed attendance liaisons after securing a Stronger Connections grant.
Wheeling CCSD 21 administrators told the School Board on Thursday that winter assessment results show measurable gains in both reading and math compared with the prior year, and outlined several instructional and family-engagement initiatives now underway.
Assistant superintendents and curriculum directors described a district literacy alignment effort driven by state guidance and a robust program of learning walks: staff reported being inside nearly 200–300 classrooms this school year to observe instruction. Administrators said reading median-growth percentiles rose year over year, the district saw a 3 percentage-point increase in students classified as approaching/meets/exceeds on winter reading MAP, and that tier-3 (intensive intervention) groups are shrinking in many grades.
On math, district leaders announced a pilot of a new K–5 resource, Amplified Desmos, building on the district’s prior middle-school use. Carolyn Drohl and the math team said 90 classrooms have joined the pilot (almost 2,000 students). The district plans classroom visits, co-planning and teacher feedback sessions during the pilot; a decision on adoption is expected in March.
The district has also secured two waves of grant funding to expand Project Lead The Way (PLTW) STEM modules at the elementary level. Initial awards will fund pilot work at Kilmer, Frost and Field, and a second award was announced for Poe, Tarkington and Twain for next year, administrators said.
Attendance was a distinct focus. The district has standardized absence codes in PowerSchool, automated notifications for students missing 10% or more of school year to building administrators, and in January hired two attendance liaisons — staff who can work directly with families. The positions were funded in part by a Stronger Connections grant; administrators said the liaisons speak district top languages (Russian/Ukrainian and Spanish) and will support tiered attendance interventions.
Family engagement activity included district-run family literacy nights in partnership with Indian Trails Public Library; administrators said nearly 22,000 books were logged in the district’s reading incentive program and students collectively recorded about 1.45 million minutes of reading this year.
Why it matters District officials said the combination of curriculum alignment, a math pilot, targeted interventions, family literacy events and attendance liaisons is intended to accelerate student progress and reduce chronic absenteeism — a major driver of long-term academic gaps.
Board questions and next steps Board members asked about student feedback on the math pilot; administrators said the pilot is new and student feedback will be gathered as the pilot continues. Staff will return with teacher and student feedback from the pilot in March, share spring MAP results in May, and continue to expand STEM grants and family-literacy programming.
Ending Administrators asked for continued patience as pilots run and data are gathered; they said early indicators are positive and that the district will report spring-map outcomes and final adoption recommendations once the pilot and data reviews are complete.
