Norfolk Public Schools reports declines in on-track rates for advanced diplomas; math and tutoring highlighted

Norfolk Public Schools staff told the school board at a May 6 work session that students’ on-track rates for an advanced diploma fell between the second and third quarters and that mathematics is the most frequent area of failing grades.

Miss McGarity, presenting interim measure 5.1 for the 2027 cohort, said 43.1% of students maintained enrollment in courses required for an advanced diploma but that, after course grades were included, the on-track rate dropped from 41.1% in quarter two to 35.4% in quarter three. "The data also continue to show lower on-track rates for students with disabilities and English learners," she said, noting those groups will receive targeted analysis and supports.

Math courses had the highest share of failing grades among students otherwise on track — about 7.7% in the 2027 cohort — and staff described gaps in foundational mathematics understanding and the rigor of upper-level math as contributing factors. Counselors and graduation coaches will continue monitoring, and staff expect course performance to improve with additional remediation and tutoring.

Board members pressed for details on the district’s tutoring vendor and actual usage. Miss McGarity said Tutor.com use varies month to month; staff recorded 251 unique student logins in April and a peak month of 547 in October. "We can get a granular report by subject, what grade level, all the way down each month," she said, adding that counselors and teachers refer students to the service and some teachers assign it during class time.

Members asked whether Tutor.com is reaching off‑track students and how the district will measure effectiveness. Staff said counselors identify struggling students in interim conferences and recommend supports including Tutor.com; they also noted the district intends to expand locally hired tutors, which staff said are less costly per hour than vendor-provided tutors.

On the 2026 cohort (report 5.2), staff reported similar patterns: 33.1% maintained required enrollment, and on-track rates declined from 32.1% (Q2) to 28.1% (Q3). Because many students in that cohort are finishing their final year, staff said there is less scheduling flexibility and emphasized supports focused on completion and final grades.

The board asked for follow-up reporting that would disaggregate trends over time and for specific subgroups, and staff said they will provide updated cohort progress at the next quarterly reporting cycle.