West Geauga students, staff mark top state ratings; student honored for Shining Star performance

West Geauga Local Schools recognized a student performer and presented the district's state report card during the board meeting, with administrators saying the district earned five stars overall and improved its performance index this year.

Administrators introduced Charlotte Speyer to the board and community and said she represented West Geauga at the Cleveland Shining Star competition at Playhouse Square. Charlotte spoke to the board about her musical-theater experience and asked for continued support of the district's performing-arts programs. "With the support you all have given, the program has come so far to where we are today," Charlotte told the board. "Please spread the word about the Dazzle Awards, support us at our performances in April, and please make all the talk about building a performing arts center a reality." (Charlotte Speyer, student)

District leaders then reviewed the October state report card. A presenter said the district was one of only 10 in Ohio to earn five stars overall and in every component on the 2024-25 report card. "A huge point of pride: we are one of only 10 districts in the entire state to earn five stars overall and five stars in every single component area from the 2024-25 school year," the presenter said. The district's performance index was presented as 108.5, which the presenter said places West Geauga among the top-performing districts in Ohio.

Officials explained the performance index measures every student's test performance, awarding more points for higher achievement levels, and said West Geauga's year-to-year rises on that metric reflect gains across student groups and grade levels. The presenter noted progress over several years — an increase from 106.7 in 2021 to 108.5 this year — and said the district has been in the top 11 statewide for the last four consecutive years.

Administrators described components of the report card and flagged a new component that will appear next year: college, career, workforce and military readiness, which uses data from the 2023-24 school year and currently yielded three stars for the district. The board was told the district has been working to expand pre-apprenticeship and work-based learning opportunities in English 11 and English 12 and expects continued improvement when that measure reflects newer data.

Board members and administrators discussed chronic absenteeism, which presenters defined as missing more than 10% of school days (about 18 days in a 180-day school year). One administrator said chronic absenteeism was reduced to about 9.1% after prior levels above 20%.

Administrators closed by thanking staff, families and the board and outlining next steps, including continuing professional development, expanding enrichment and monitoring the district's progress on the newer readiness metric.

The meeting also included routine business and roll-call votes following the report presentation.