Renton Schools Hold Mostly Middle Ground or Better on School Achievement Index

Utilizing an idea endorsed by leaders of both political parties, Washington Policy Center has published letter grades for Washington state public schools. The grades are based on the State Board of Education’s annual “Achievement Index.”

Last year Jay Inslee said, “I’m proposing [that] every school will have a letter grade that will be given and disseminated then to the parents in the district so that we hold ourselves accountable.” Governor Inslee this past week continues to call for giving letter grades to schools.

Parents want to know and have a right to know how their child’s school is performing, and this resource gives them easy way to do that, explained WPC Education Director Liv Finne.

According to the annual index, 2 of the 24 schools or programs in the Renton School District rank “exemplary” — the top rank given by State Board of Education officials. The index rates schools as exemplary, very good, good, fair or struggling. They are Hazen High School and Lindbergh High School.

If the Achievement Index used such a scale, “exemplary” would be the equivalent of an “A” grade while “struggling” would be considered an “F.” Even though the idea of assigning letter grades has wide appeal, state government has yet to adopt the change.

• Benson Hill Elementary: C - Good
• Bryn Mawr Elementary: C- Good
• Campbell Hill Elementary: C - Good
• Cascade Elementary: C - Good
• Dimmitt Middle School: C - Good
• Griffin Home: Unknown
• Hazelwood Elementary: B - Very Good
• Hazen Senior High School: A - Exemplary
• Highlands Elementary: D - Fair
• Home Program: C - Good
• Kennydale Elementary: B - Very Good
• Lakeridge Elementary: D - Fair
• Lindbergh Senior High School: A - Exemplary
• Maplewood Heights Elementary: C- Good
• McKnight Middle School: C - Good
• Nelson Middle School: C - Good
• Out of District Facility: Unknown
• Renton Academy: D - Fair
• Renton Park Elementary: D - Fair
• Renton Senior High School: B - Very Good
• Sartori Education Center: C - Good
• Sierra Heights Elementary: C - Good
• Talbot Hill Elementary: D - Fair
• Tiffany Park Elementary: C - Good

The annual Achievement Index is a ranking of 2,189 public schools in Washington State based on data compiled by the State Board of Education for the 2011–12 school year. It is conducted to determine whether school officials are fulfilling their paramount duty under the state constitution to provide a quality education for every child. 

The full Achievement Index covers the 2011–12 school year and is available online. Local schools are listed alphabetically, by district, and by ranking. WPC’s two-page Policy Note explaining the Achievement Index is available here.

Key Findings:

• Public schools in Washington state receive $10,320 per student per year in operating funds
• Since 1980, education spending (adjusted for inflation) has more than doubled, while the number of students, due to smaller families, has increased by only one-third.

Former Governor Gregoire says “I put a lot more money into K–12. But then you sit there and say, ‘Why have I not been able to get the result I set out to achieve?’” Policy changes that would improve learning for children are described in Washington Policy Center’s education reform plan, Eight Practical Ways to Improve Public Schools.

“One potential policy change is adjusting the Achievement Index by using an A–F grading scale,” said Finne. “Such a change would make it easier for parents to understand how their child’s school is performing. Legislation has already been introduced in the 2013 Washington Legislative Session that would accomplish that goal.”