CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) released school performance ratings today. The state accountability measure shows that the majority of Wyoming schools are Meeting or Exceeding Expectations, and the number of schools Not Meeting Expectations is dropping.

“Schools are starting to make the progress they have been asked to make,” said State Superintendent Jillian Balow. “Especially when you look at our elementary and middle schools, they are focusing on growth and equity, and getting results. As we put our state plan for the Every Student Succeeds Act into motion, and include post-secondary readiness for high schools, I hope to see even more progress.”

The 2016-17 School Performance Level Accountability table shows that in the 2016-17 school year, there was a grand total of 337 public schools in Wyoming. During that school year, 41 schools were rated at the level of Exceeding Expectations, 147 schools were rated as Meeting Expectations, 90 schools were rated as Partially Meeting Expectations, 35 schools were rated as Not Meeting Expectations, and 24 schools will undergo a Small School Review. In grades 3-8 there were a total of 268 schools. Of those schools, 40 schools were rated at the level of Exceeding Expectations, 112 schools were rated as Meeting Expectations, 68 schools were rated as Partially Meeting Expectations, 25 schools were rated as Not Meeting Expectations, and 23 schools will undergo a Small School Review. In grades 9-12 there were a total of 53 schools. Of those schools, 1 school was rated at the level of Exceeding Expectations, 30 schools were rated as Meeting Expectations, 12 schools were rated as Partially Meeting Expectations, 9 schools were rated as No Meeting Expectations, and 1 school will undergo a Small School Review. There were also 16 K-12 schools. Of those, no schools were rated at the level of Exceeding Expectations, 5 schools were rated as Meeting Expectations, 10 schools were rated as Partially Meeting Expectations, 1 school was rated as Not Meeting Expectations, and no schools will undergo a Small School Review.

This data does not include school performance ratings for alternative high schools. The alternative high school accountability model is in its final pilot year for the 2017-18 school year.

A graphic for Wyoming School Performance for Grades 3-8 shows that during the 2014-15 school year, 16.3% of those schools were Exceeding Expectations, 35.0% were Meeting Expectations, 33.5% were Partially Meeting Expectations, and 15.2% were Not Meeting Expectations. In the 2015-16 school year, 16.9% of those schools were Exceeding Expectations, 40.4% were Meeting Expectations, 29.6% were Partially Meeting Expectations, and 13.1% were Not Meeting Expectations. In the 2016-17 school year, 15.3% of those schools were Exceeding Expectations, 44.8% were Meeting Expectations, 29.9% were Partially Meeting Expectations, and 10.0% were Not Meeting Expectations.

A graphic for Wyoming School Performance for Grades 9-12 (Does not include data from alternative high schools) shows that during the 2014-15 school year, 9.0% of those schools were Exceeding Expectations, 50.7% were Meeting Expectations, 22.4% were Partially Meeting Expectations, and 17.9% were Not Meeting Expectations. In the 2015-16 school year, 7.2% of those schools were Exceeding Expectations, 60.9% were Meeting Expectations, 15.9% were Partially Meeting Expectations, and 15.9% were Not Meeting Expectations. In the 2016-17 school year, 1.5% of those schools were Exceeding Expectations, 51.5% were Meeting Expectations, 32.4% were Partially Meeting Expectations, and 14.7% were Not Meeting Expectations.

Thirteen Wyoming schools have exceeded expectations for three consecutive years, and will be recognized at the State Superintendent’s 2018 Policy Summit.

Seven schools raised their performance rating by two:

  • Burlington Middle School, Big Horn #1
  • Glenrock Middle School, Converse #2
  • Davis Elementary, Laramie #1
  • Desert Middle School, Sweetwater #1
  • Harrison Elementary, Sweetwater #2
  • Torrington High School, Goshen #1
  • Central High School, Laramie #1

Under the Wyoming Accountability in Education Act, schools serving grades 3-8 are rated on achievement, growth, and equity indicators. Indicators for high schools also include graduation rates, 9th grade credits earned, and Hathaway Scholarship eligibility.

As part of Wyoming’s transition to the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), no federal accountability determinations were made for the 2016-17 school year. Starting in the 2017-18 school year, school performance will be published on a report card that includes information required by both state and federal law.

School Performance Ratings can be found here.

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Media Contact:
Kari Eakins, Communications Director
kari.eakins@wyo.gov
307-777-2053

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