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Holmen schools earn “Exceeds Expectations” as district score rises to 79.8
Summary
Executive Director of Instructional Services Kim Edwards told the board the Holmen School District earned an "Exceeds Expectations" district rating with a 79.8 overall score (up from 73.8). Buildings largely outperformed statewide averages; Edwards flagged subgroup dips for students with disabilities (ELA) and Hispanic/Latino students (math).
Kim Edwards, executive director of instructional services, told the Holmen School District board that the district’s state report cards, released Nov. 11, show strong gains: the district earned an "Exceeds Expectations" overall accountability rating with a 79.8 score, up from 73.8 the prior year.
Edwards said the district’s achievement component scored 75.8 on a 0–100 scale and growth and target-group outcomes also improved. Target-group outcomes — a metric focused on students who were in the lowest-performing quartile the prior year — scored 76.3, and the district’s on-track-to-graduation measure was 94.2. Edwards called out the district’s eighth-grade mathematics result as “pretty astounding.” “We did absolutely outstanding,” she said.
The district’s overall score reflects weighted components: achievement (about 31.9% of the total), growth (about 18.1%), and two other priority areas (each roughly 25% at the district level). Edwards explained the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) renormed some report-card bands this year, and the state used two years of data for this release rather than three, affecting comparability with prior years.
Edwards said all district buildings achieved either “Exceeds Expectations” or “Significantly Exceeds Expectations” except Holden Middle School (which she identified as “significantly exceeds”). She acknowledged areas that need attention: students with disabilities showed a slight dip in ELA achievement and Hispanic/Latino students showed weaker math results. "We did notice when we look at some of our subgroups ... they weren't growing as much as we would have liked," Edwards said, noting the district will study and provide targeted supports.
Board members asked follow-up questions about how growth is measured; Edwards said growth is calculated year to year on a student-by-student basis and relies on extensive spreadsheets of assessment performance. The report cards and underlying data are posted on the district’s instructional work website and can also be viewed on DPI’s website.
The presentation leaves the immediate factual picture: Holmen’s report-card scores rose this year and most buildings performed above state averages, while the administration identified specific subgroup areas for targeted improvement and pledged continued monitoring and supports.
