CMSD holds at 2.5 stars in report card despite key gains
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CMSD headquarters on Superior Avenue downtown. Photo: Sam Allard/Axios
Cleveland schools remain below Ohio's threshold for meeting expectations, per the latest state report card.
Why it matters: The report card does contain glimmers of progress CMSD officials are keen to highlight in the early days of the Building Brighter Futures era.
State of play: The district maintained its 2.5-star overall rating from last year, below the three stars Ohio considers meeting state standards.
- The static number doesn't tell the full story of improved graduation rates, academic performance and college and career readiness, CMSD leaders say.
Zoom out: Schools across Ohio continue their post-pandemic recovery, with average math and English scores reaching five-year highs and chronic absenteeism reaching a five-year low.
By the numbers: CMSD earned high marks for both student progress and closing achievement gaps.
- Its four-year graduation rate increased around 3 percentage points to 79.6% — close to its pre-pandemic high of 80.9% — and its college, career, workforce and military readiness measure improved nearly 13 percentage points.
Yes, but: CMSD fared worse for early literacy, with only 36% of third graders proficient or better in English.
- Chronic absenteeism remains above 50%, more than twice the statewide rate.
Between the lines: School performance is closely linked with a district's wealth. Urban school districts not only educate larger numbers of students living in poverty, but also students with disabilities.
- Nearly 30% of CMSD's 34,000 students have disabilities.
What they're saying: "While we know there is more work to do to improve achievement, our proficiency gains and continued student growth show we are moving in the right direction," CEO Warren Morgan said in a statement.
- The outcomes should be celebrated, he said, in a year "where we had to manage so much change in our system."
The intrigue: Three of CMSD's highest-performing elementary schools — along with 12 area charter schools — were flagged by the state for testing anomalies, meaning the district's results could still change.
- CMSD has said it is reviewing the matter and cooperating with state officials.