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Superintendent: Smith Center students outperformed state in ELA; district seeks higher math Level‑4 results
Summary
Superintendent Dustin McEwen told the Oct. 13 board that 2024–25 state test results show ELA scores above the state average, while the district wants a larger share of students achieving level 4 in math; he said cut-score changes delayed results but will better reflect student performance.
At the Oct. 13 USD 237 Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Dustin McEwen reviewed 2024–25 Kansas state assessment results and told the board the district’s English language arts results exceeded the state average while math results showed fewer students reaching the top performance band.
"The scores for ELA were better than the state average," McEwen said. He added, "We would like to see a greater percentage of our students score in level 4 on the state math assessment." McEwen told members that changes to cut scores for 2024–25 delayed the release of results but that the revised cut scores will give the state a better sense of student learning.
Board members heard the results as part of routine reporting ahead of a KESA team visit planned for the November board meeting. The superintendent noted the district’s Kansas Can Star recognitions — Academically Prepared (Bronze), Graduation (Gold) and Post‑Secondary (Silver) — as contextual markers while staff consider areas for improvement in math.
The board did not take formal action on curriculum or intervention programs at the Oct. 13 meeting; next steps include discussion with the KESA review team and follow-up reports from building principals.
