By Jessica Honigford
Community Post
The state's district report cards are in and the area schools have scored well. In fact, they have scored excellent. 

Minster, New Bremen, Fort Loramie and Marion Local school districts earned the designation of “excellent” on the 2007-2008 district report card issued by the state.
The designations are issued based on 30 indicators, a performance index score and its adequate yearly progress (AYP).  Most of the state indicators evaluate the number of students that passed each segment of their achievement or graduation tests.  The district must meet the state required percentage in order to earn a point for an indicator. Other indicators include attendance rates and graduation rates.  Schools must meet 94 percent of their indicators or have a performance index score of 100 to 120 to earn the distinction of excellent.  The performance index score is the weighted average of all the tested subjects and grade levels.
A fourth indicator was added this year called the value-added measure.  Districts that came in above expected growth for two consecutive years and also ranked excellent in the other indicators can now earn the designation of “excellent with distinction.”  It also allows schools with lower ratings such as effective of continuous improvement on the preliminary designation to earn higher honors as well.
Minster and Marion Local school districts both received perfect 30s on the state indicators.  In the value-added measure both Marion Local and Minster received minuses for fourth and fifth grade reading, indicating the school came in below the expected growth for last school year.  Marion Local also received a minus in sixth grade math.
While Minster superintendent Gay Ray is pleased for the sixth straight excellent rating in a row, she says the district is addressing the areas that need improvement.  “We are addressing the fourth and fifth grade reading and have identified the students needing help,” she said.  “An in-school intervention program is instituted for these students so they can progress.  The value added component is important as it measures students' progress over time.  We are moving forward.”
New Bremen and Fort Loramie both received 29 out of 30 for the districts' state indicators.  Both districts failed to meet the required passage percentage for eighth grade social studies.  At Fort Loramie 65.5 percent passed, while at New Bremen 74.3 percent passed, just under the state minimum of 75 percent.
“We were pleased with another excellent rating on the report card and our improvement in the value-added and performance index measures,” said Larry Ludlow, superintendent of Fort Loramie Local Schools. “Eight grade social studies continues to be an area needing improvement.  We will be working with the Shelby County Educational Service center to continue to evaluate and revise curriculum and resources in social studies.”
Fort Loramie also received a minus in the value-added measure for eighth grade reading.  New Bremen Local Schools met or exceeded the expected growth in all categories but fourth grade reading.
The lowest rating in Auglaize, Shelby or Mercer county was effective.  Fort Recovery and St. Henry both received designations of excellent with distinction.
School Name
Rating
Indicators met
Performance index
AYP
Value-added measure
Minster
Excellent
30
106.5
met
above expected growth
New Bremen
Excellent
29
105.8
met
above expected growth
Marion Local
Excellent
30
106.5
met
above expected growth
Fort Loramie
Excellent
29
105.1
met
above expected growth