Academic Growth in Robbinsdale Area Schools

Editor's Note: The following content was provided by the Robbinsdale School District.

Robbinsdale Area Schools are proving that their students’ academic growth
isn’t just a passing thing.

After every elementary school in the district experienced above average growth from Fall 2010 to Spring 2011 in both math and reading on the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP), an assessment designed to monitor student learning, the 2012 Winter MAP scores prove that the students in Robbinsdale Area Schools are continuing that success in their learning.

From Fall 2011 to Winter 2012, every elementary school again saw great growth - over 50% of their students made at least average growth in both reading and math – and most of those gains are in double-digits from just two years ago. For instance, Lakeview Elementary had a phenomenal increase in numbers of students making at least average growth in both math and reading, going from 36% of their students making at least average growth in math in 2009 to 61% of their students making at least average growth in winter 2011, a remarkable increase of 29 percentage points.

In reading, Lakeview Elementary went from 37% of their students making at least average growth to 66%. Northport Elementary saw similar increases, up 20% in the number of students who made at least average growth in reading and another double digit increase in math. In fact, every elementary school but one made double-digit growth from two years ago.

The middle schools are making great gains as well, with double-digit growth or near double-digit growth in both math and reading in just one year. As well, the achievement disparity between Caucasian students and students of color is closing, as it is at the elementary level.

“This is fantastic news for our district,” stated Aldo Sicoli, Superintendent.

“Our guiding force has been what’s best for kids, and integrating such best practices as Response to Intervention and Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports into our schools, along with our principals dedicating themselves as instructional leaders, is paying off for our students.”

The district has implemented Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) district-wide beginning this school year, and staff has had dedicated time for Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), which give teachers the opportunity to collaborate and communicate with other teachers in their department or at their grade level. Response to Intervention (RtI) is firmly established in the elementary schools and has begun in the middle schools. Information from assessments, such as MAP and other district-generated common assessments, help inform instructional decision-making.

Average growth for a student translates into a year’s academic growth in a year’s time. If a student has achieved above-average growth in a particular subject area, the student is making more than a year’s growth in a year’s time. If the current numbers are any indication, the students in Robbinsdale Area Schools are well on their way to great success in their educational journeys.