News

A Snapshot into Our Schools
Each fall, the Iowa Department of Education publishes a school performance report that represents data from the previous school year. Data from 2023-2024 was recently just released in late November and we wanted to provide a brief snapshot of the data, highlights, and celebrations of the schools, as well as provide additional context into some of the factors that encompass this report and what this data means for North Polk schools.

This report includes data on attendance, academic proficiency, and academic growth, but it is important to note that at North Polk, this is only a small part of our broader approach to student development. We consider many other factors, such as involvement in extracurricular activities, data from our BEISY and Safe and Healthy School Surveys, and key metrics like work habits, behavior, work completion, active learning, and overall attendance.

Understanding the Scoring System
The Iowa School Performance Profiles were introduced in 2018 as part of a state initiative to meet federal and state reporting requirements. These profiles help to provide transparency and give parents, communities, and policymakers a clearer picture of how well schools are performing. Schools are rated based on several key components, including chronic absenteeism, assessment participation, graduation rates, attendance, and proficiency in core subjects.

Schools receive ratings across these components, which contribute to an overall rating. The rating categories are:

• Exceptional
• High Performing
• Commendable
• Acceptable
• Needs Improvement
• Priority

Highlights of North Polk CSD Performance
We are proud to share several positive highlights from this year’s report. These accomplishments are a direct reflection of the hard work and dedication of our staff, students, and families:

• Chronic Absenteeism:
  • North Polk: 14%
  • State Average: 21%
    We are pleased to see that fewer students are missing school compared to the state average, reflecting our district’s commitment, that to gain a high-quality education, students have to strive to attend school every day.
• Graduation Rate:
  • North Polk: 99%
  • State Average: 87%
    Our high graduation rate speaks to the dedication of our teachers and staff in supporting students through to successful completion of high school.
• Math Proficiency:
  • North Polk: 86%
  • State Average: 70%
• Science Proficiency:
  • North Polk: 78%
  • State Average: 62%
• English Language Arts Proficiency:
  • North Polk: 85%
  • State Average: 73%

Understanding Changes in the Scoring Categories
This year, the scoring system for schools has been revised. Under the new system, even if a school as a whole is performing well, the rating can be affected if a specific demographic group within the school requires additional support. This means that if certain groups of students—such as those with disabilities or IEPS, English language learners, or economically disadvantaged students—are not meeting performance targets (groups with at least 20 students or more), the school’s overall rating is downgraded. This is an important change to keep in mind when reviewing the district’s scores.

To view the district’s entire profile and to learn more about individual scores for each school, visit the link here.

Looking Ahead
While this report provides an overview of key performance metrics, we want to emphasize that this is only a snapshot of our schools. At North Polk, we look at the whole child and understand that true success comes from a combination of many factors. 

We remain committed to providing the best educational experience for all students and will continue to focus on improvement in every area. Thank you for your ongoing support of North Polk schools!