By Kim McDarison

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) Tuesday released its 2022-23 school year district report cards. 

According to a DPI news release: “Statewide, achievement improved from 2021-22 to 2022-23, though for many schools and districts, 2022-23 achievement performance is lower than pre-pandemic levels.”

The release noted that, following the pandemic, “report card achievement scores, overall scores, and ratings may have decreased despite upward trending achievement performance.”

Additionally, the release stated: “This is the first report card that does not include achievement data from assessments occurring prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The DPI urges caution when interpreting scores and ratings due to impacts resulting from the pandemic.”

School achievement report cards, published annually, include data on multiple indicators for multiple school years across four priority areas: achievement, growth, target group outcomes, and an area titled “on-track to graduation.” 

Districts are given an “overall accountability score,” placing them, and their schools, into one of five overall accountability ratings: “Significantly Exceeds Expectations,” represented with five stars; “Exceeds Expectations,” represented with four stars; “Meets Expectations,” represented with three stars; “Meets Few Expectations,” represented with two stars, and “Fails to Meet Expectations,” represented with one star. 

Overall statewide findings

As stated in the release, of 378 public school districts receiving report card ratings for 2022-23 school year, 357, or 94%, met, exceeded or significantly exceeded expectations. Among districts receiving report card scores for both the 2022-23 and 2021-22 school years, 19 increased by one rating category compared to the prior year, 52 decreased by one rating category, and 306 had no change in rating.

There were 2,098 report cards produced for public schools for 2022-23. Among public schools, 158, or 8%, were unable to be scored due to insufficient data. Of the scored public school report cards, 1,601, or 83%, met, exceeded or significantly exceeded expectations. Among public schools receiving scored report cards for both 2022-23 and 2021-22, 255 increased in rating at least one category compared to the prior year, 394 decreased in rating at least one category, and 1,254 had no change in rating.

Additionally, the release noted, there were 405 private schools participating in a Private School Choice Program for 2022-23. Of scored private choice school report cards, 136, or 80%, met, exceeded or significantly exceeded expectations. Among private choice schools receiving a score for both 2022-23 and 2021-22, 26 increased in rating at least one category compared to the prior year, 48 decreased in rating at least one category, and 80 had no change in rating. Some 235 private choice schools, or 58%, were unable to be scored due to insufficient data. This is in part due to the tested choice student population being too small to meet the conditions required to produce report cards, either because of low test participation rates, or total choice student population size.

Further, the release stated, along with achievement, growth, and graduation rates, another component of the report cards is chronic absenteeism, which is the percentage of students enrolled for at least 90 days who missed more than 10% of school days. Wisconsin students, attending both public and choice schools, had a 23% chronic absenteeism rate for 2021-22, the most recent year of data for absenteeism. In line with national trends, this represents an increase from 2017-18 through 2019-20 of 13%, and 2020-2 of 16%. The DPI continues to work with schools, districts, and CESAs to support strategies to decrease chronic absenteeism rates.

Individualized 2022-23 data for area districts 

School districts within and surrounding the WhitewaterWise readership area received the following overall accountability scores: 

Whitewater

According to the 2022-23 report card, the district educates students in grades K4-12, and has 1,986 students enrolled. Of that population, 3% use the state’s open enrollment program. The district’s overall score is 61.9, which is up from last year, when the district’s overall score was 61.6. Both scores fall within the “meets expectations,” category represented by three stars. The full report 2022-23 card is here: http://whitewaterwise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/DRCDetail_Public_Whitewater_Unified_2022-23_004160.pdf. 

Fort Atkinson

According to the 2022-23 report card, the district educates students in grades K4-12, and has 2,523 students enrolled. Of that population, 7.4% use the state’s open enrollment program. The district’s overall score is 69.1, which is up from last year, when the district’s overall score was 68.3. Both scores fall within the “meets expectations,” category represented by three stars. The full report 2022-23 card is here: http://whitewaterwise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/DRCDetail_Public_Fort_Atkinson_2022-23_006510.pdf. 

Jefferson

According to the 2022-23 report card, the district educates students in grades K4-12, and has 1,731 students enrolled. Of that population, 13.6% use the state’s open enrollment program. The district’s overall score is 63.5, which is down from last year, when the district’s overall score was 64.7. Both scores fall within the “meets expectations,” category represented by three stars. The full report 2022-23 card is here: http://whitewaterwise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/DRCDetail_Public_Jefferson_2022-23_006733.pdf. 

Milton

According to the 2022-23 report card, the district educates students in grades K4-12, and has 3,425 students enrolled. Of that population, 10.9% use the state’s open enrollment program. The district’s overall score is 69.0, which is up from last year, when the district’s overall score was 68.3. Both scores fall within the “meets expectations,” category represented by three stars. The full report 2022-23 card is here: http://whitewaterwise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/DRCDetail_Public_Milton_2022-23_006991.pdf. 

Palmyra-Eagle

According to the 2022-23 report card, the district educates students in grades K4-12, and has 574 students enrolled. Of that population, 8% use the state’s open enrollment program. The district’s overall score is 67.3, which is down from last year, when the district’s overall score was 68.0. Both scores fall within the “meets expectations,” category represented by three stars. The full report 2022-23 card is here: http://whitewaterwise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/DRCDetail_Public_Palmyra-Eagle_Area_2022-23_003578.pdf. 

Watertown

According to the 2022-23 report card, the district educates students in grades K4-12, and has 3,202 students enrolled. Of that population, 2.9% use the state’s open enrollment program. The district’s overall score is 64.9, which is down from last year, when the district’s overall score was 66.1. Both scores fall within the “meets expectations,” category represented by three stars. The full report 2022-23 card is here: http://whitewaterwise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/DRCDetail_Public_Watertown_Unified_2022-23_002410.pdf. 

Janesville

According to the 2022-23 report card, the district educates students in grades K4-12, and has 9,526 students enrolled. Of that population, 6.3% use the state’s open enrollment program. The district’s overall score is 57.3, which is down from last year, when the district’s overall score was 60.2. The scores fall within the “meets few expectations,” represented by two stars, and “meets expectations” represented by three stars, categories, respectively. The full report 2022-23 card is here: http://whitewaterwise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/DRCDetail_Public_Janesville_2022-23_006597.pdf. 

Delavan-Darien

According to the 2022-23 report card, the district educates students in grades K4-12, and has 1,817 students enrolled. Of that population, 4.5% use the state’s open enrollment program. The district’s overall score is 63.8, which is up from last year, when the district’s overall score was 62.8. Both scores fall within the “meets expectations,” category represented by three stars. The full report 2022-23 card is here: http://whitewaterwise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/DRCDetail_Public_Delavan-Darien_2022-23_002730.pdf. 

Lake Mills  

According to the 2022-23 report card, the district educates students in grades K4-12, and has 1,511 students enrolled. Of that population, 7.1% use the state’s open enrollment program. The district’s overall score is 72.0, which is up from last year, when the district’s overall score was 71.9. Both scores fall within the “exceeds expectations,” category represented by four stars. The full report 2022-23 card is here: http://whitewaterwise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/DRCDetail_Public_Lake_Mills_Area_2022-23_006785.pdf. 

Elkhorn

According to the 2022-23 report card, the district educates students in grades K4-12, and has 3,281 students enrolled. Of that population, 17.7% use the state’s open enrollment program. The district’s overall score is 70.0, which is down from last year, when the district’s overall score was 71.9. Both scores fall within the “exceeds expectations,” category represented by four stars. The full report 2022-23 card is here: http://whitewaterwise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/DRCDetail_Public_Elkhorn_Area_2022-23_002827.pdf. 

2022-23 data for schools within the Whitewater Unified School District

Overall accountability scores earned by each school within the Whitewater Unified School District follow.  

Lakeview Elementary

Within the 2022-23 school year, the building held 193 students, with 4.7% participating through the open enrollment program. The school earned an overall accountability score of 68.8 which is up from last year’s score of 67.0. Both scores fall within the “meets expectations,” category represented by three stars.

Lincoln Elementary

Within the 2022-23 school year, the building held 382 students, with 3.9% participating through the open enrollment program. The school earned an overall accountability score of 61.0 which is up from last year’s score of 58.2. Both scores fall within the “meets expectations,” category represented by three stars.

Washington Elementary

Within the 2022-23 school year, the building held 325 students, with 0.9% participating through the open enrollment program. The school earned an overall accountability score of 76.6 which is down from last year’s score of 80.3. Both scores fall within the “exceeds expectations,” category represented by four stars.

Whitewater Middle School

Within the 2022-23 school year, the building held 444 students, with 1.4% participating through the open enrollment program. The school earned an overall accountability score of 60.6 which is up from last year’s score of 54.3. The scores fall within the “meets expectations,” represented by three stars, and “meets few expectations” represented by two stars, categories, respectively.

Whitewater High School

Within the 2022-23 school year, the building held 612 students, with 3.6% participating through the open enrollment program. The school earned an overall accountability score of 58.6 which is down from last year’s score of 64.8. Both scores fall within the “meets expectations,” category represented by three stars.

2022-23 data for schools within the School District of Fort Atkinson

Overall accountability scores earned by each school within the School District of Fort Atkinson follow.  

Barrie Elementary

Within the 2022-23 school year, the building held 223 students, with 6.7% participating through the open enrollment program. The school earned an overall accountability score of 83.5 which is up from last year’s score of 83.2. Both scores fall within the “significantly exceeds expectations,” category, which is represented by five stars. 

Luther Elementary

Within the 2022-23 school year, the building held 226 students, with 4.9% participating through the open enrollment program. The school earned an overall accountability score of 89.9 which is up from last year’s score of 78.8. The scores fall within the “significantly exceeds expectations,” represented by five stars, and “exceeds expectations” represented by four stars, categories, respectively.

Purdy Elementary

Within the 2022-23 school year, the building held 268 students, with 5.6% participating through the open enrollment program. The school earned an overall accountability score of 84.5 which is up from last year’s score of 70.2. The scores fall within the “significantly exceeds expectations,” represented by five stars, and “exceeds expectations” represented by four stars, categories, respectively.

Rockwell Elementary

Within the 2022-23 school year, the building held 231 students, with 7.8% participating through the open enrollment program. The school earned an overall accountability score of 80.4 which is up from last year’s score of 70.2. Both scores fall within the “exceeds expectations,” category represented by four stars.

Fort Atkinson Middle School

Within the 2022-23 school year, the building held 504 students, with 8.3% participating through the open enrollment program. The school earned an overall accountability score of 77.9 which is up from last year’s score of 76.6. Both scores fall within the “exceeds expectations,” category represented by four stars.

Fort Atkinson High School

Within the 2022-23 school year, the building held 960 students, with 7.6% participating through the open enrollment program. The school earned an overall accountability score of 55.0 which is down from last year’s score of 57.3. Both scores fall within the “meets few expectations,” category represented by two stars.

More about school report cards

According to the release, the DPI publishes school and district report cards annually, as required by Wis. Stat. 115.385. Report cards include data for multiple school years across four priority areas: Achievement, Growth, Target Group Outcomes, and On-Track to Graduation. The Achievement and Growth priority areas are weighted based on a district or school percentage of economically disadvantaged pupils, as required by state law. A district or school’s overall accountability score places it into one of five overall accountability ratings: Significantly Exceeds Expectations (five stars), Exceeds Expectations (four stars), Meets Expectations (three stars), Meets Few Expectations (two stars), and Fails to Meet Expectations (one star). Report cards use up to three years of data, including achievement data from 2020-21, 2021-22, and 2022-23.

For detailed district and school report cards, visit the DPI’s website. The DPI recommends careful review of not only the report card front page, but of the multiple pages of student performance data broken down by student group and across years to highlight trends and deepen analysis of group, school, and district performance. Additional information on report cards can also be found on the DPI’s Office of Educational Accountability webpage.

A story about last year’s school report cards, as found on WhitewaterWise’s sister publication, Fort Atkinson Online, is here: https://fortatkinsononline.com/dpi-releases-2021-22-district-school-report-cards/.