Midyear STAR data: Waynesville R-VI reports gains in early literacy and elementary growth

Waynesville R-VI administrators presented midyear STAR assessment results to the board, reporting districtwide gains in reading and math benchmarks and explaining how the results inform instruction.

Mr. Henson, who presented the midyear report, said the district uses STAR (nationally normed benchmarks) to monitor growth and to guide instructional planning. For STAR, the district treats the 50th national percentile as its primary predictor for proficiency on state assessments; staff said 40th percentile is considered on level by STAR guidance.

Highlights presented for literacy included an 18-percentage-point increase districtwide on STAR Early Literacy in kindergarten from the fall to the winter window. First grade proficiency increased by 5 percentage points, with notable gains reported at Freedom, Partridge and Thayer elementary schools. The presenter said the district exceeded the winter benchmark scale scores in grades 3 through 10 on average and that median student growth percentiles in elementary grades were at or above the 50th percentile except for first grade.

On STAR Math (grades 1'8), the administration reported growth at all grade levels and an increase in the number of students scoring at or above the 50th percentile. The district said it will use STAR skill reports and building-level instructional coaches to target interventions.

A board member asked whether the data can be disaggregated to the classroom level so teachers and coaches can target instruction. The presenter said the data is monitored at collaborative-team, building and district levels and that staff will use it to make adjustments in instructional planning, pacing and interventions.

The presentation was for information only; no formal board action was taken on the STAR report.