Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Graduation Advanced Studies topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Norfolk schools report 32% of 2025 cohort on track for Advanced Studies diploma under current metric
Summary
Chief academic officer Dr. Poele told the board that, under the metric used for interim measure 5.3, 32% of the 2025 graduating cohort are on track to earn the Advanced Studies diploma; the division plans targeted remediation, course adjustments and virtual options to raise the rate.
The Norfolk School Board reviewed academic progress tied to Board Goal 5, interim measure 5.3, which tracks the share of students on course to graduate with an Advanced Studies diploma. Dr. Poele, chief academic officer, reported that under the current measure the 2025 cohort’s maximum achievable rate stands at 32%.
Dr. Poele said the 2025 cohort shows a 0.9 percentage‑point decline from the corresponding point in the 2024 school year and that the cohort’s final target for the year is two percentage points lower than last year based on the metric in use. He also reported a 5.4 percentage‑point decline from the final 2024 grades to the first quarter of school year 2025.
The administration listed interventions to improve outcomes: using district‑recommended remediation practices and post‑test procedures throughout the year, applying backwards‑design curriculum protocols, providing timely feedback to students and parents, and sharing lists of students who could still reach the on‑track threshold so counselors can encourage make‑up (including virtual) course options.
Board members asked whether the division maintains a shared, centrally provided list of students for counselors; Dr. Poele said the division supplies that list centrally to counselors and identified Mr. Brady’s team as responsible for that distribution. A board member asked about auto‑enrollment policies used elsewhere to expand access to advanced courses; Dr. Poele said Norfolk does not currently auto‑enroll students but that counselors encourage placement on the highest appropriate course of study and that auto‑enrollment is a strategy the division could examine, especially as the district transitions to a 4x4 schedule.
The board did not take any formal vote on the measure; the presentation served as a progress update and laid out next steps for monitoring and targeted supports.
