The Ohio Department of Education recently released report cards for the state’s new career-technical education accountability system. This is the second year career-technical schools have received a report card.
“We are so proud of our students for their achievements, and we appreciate the work of our staff and the support of our community,” Superintendent Maggie Hess said. “Ninety-two percent of our graduates, six months later, are employed and/or in further education and training or the military. Our staff is dedicated to providing the best possible learning environment and working together for student success.”
The Centerville-Kettering-Oakwood Career-Technical Planning District is the other district earning all A’s for the second consecutive year.
Hess said a combination of numerous factors has contributed to WCCC’s success.
“Since the measures were announced a couple years ago, as a district we have placed an intense focus on those areas. In addition, our staff is committed to helping each student reach his or her potential. We have strong parent support and involvement,” she explained. “The district’s 300 plus business advisory members give input on a regular basis, helping us identify and focus on what students need to know and be able to do when they graduate.”
The report card rates the state’s 91 career-technical districts in four areas — achievement, post-program outcomes and four-year and five-year graduation rates — with an A-F grading system similar to the K-12 report card.
Achievement measures the proportion of students passing technical skill assessments. These assessments are designed to measure the skills and knowledge learned in a student’s career-technical program. Nearly 88 percent of WCCC students passed their technical assessments.
WCCC’s post-program placement rate, 91.7 percent, measures the proportion of students who are employed, in an apprenticeship, joined the military, or are enrolled in postsecondary education or advanced training in the six months after leaving school.
At WCCC, 94.8 percent of students graduated high school within four years and 96.2 percent of students graduated within five years.
Another area highlighted on the report card but not yet graded is “Prepared for Success,” which includes dual credit enrollment, advanced placement participation and honors diploma. Just under 86 percent of WCCC students are enrolled in dual credit courses, earning them both high school and college credits.
“We are constantly looking at data to find ways to improve teaching and learning with the goal of improving student achievement. Our district data team will be analyzing the data for graduation rates, technical skill attainment and positive post-program placement to identify how we can better serve individual students as well as sub groups of our students,” Hess said. “The information we gather from the study of the data from the report card contributes to our ability to identify strengths and weaknesses and opportunities for improvement.”
Another criteria is expected to be added to the report card in 2015 measuring industry-recognized credentials.
WCCC serves students in Waynesville, Springboro, Franklin, Lebanon, Little Miami and Kings school districts.
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