Dr. Moore’s Celebration of State Rankings is Rank Obfuscation

Data clearly shows state decline in reading scores is cause of Indian River’s rank gain.

Big celebrations make everyone feel good for a moment. Sometimes, in the case of “measurable” achievements, they can even leave you with questions like “How did we really accomplish that rank?” In the midst of the confetti, the big smiles, the congratulatory words, handshakes and back pats, a sense of bewilderment over what exactly happened asks for you to “check again.” When the celebratory claims come from government officials, it is mandatory to validate the statements of success. 

Such is the case when Dr. Moore announced that, since 2019, the School District of Indian River County (SDIRC) has moved up 24 state rankings for third grade assessments scores in English Language Arts (ELA). The last four years, the SDIRC has moved from thirty-first to seventh in the state for testing determining reading levels in third grade.

Locally, this factoid seems more important in the celebratory sense than even the SDIRC being given an overall ‘A’ score for the district by the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE). It is more important in the community, because, much is riding on ELA scores due to outside investment and direct involvement from non-governmental organizations like The Learning Alliance, a local non-profit working on literacy from pre-K to third grade. 

The Learning Alliance held a party for prospective and regular donors at the John’s Island Club where Chairman of the Board, Ray Oglethorpe, addressed those in attendance. He said, “We have gone all the way from thirty-first in 2019 to seventh in the State of Florida. Twenty-four positions in four years. If that doesn’t get your heart going that your generosity is making a big difference, nothing else will.”

An otherwise truly remarkable accomplishment except one thing did not happen. In that same four years, SDIRC assessment scores have never increased. According to the FLDOE, SDIRC assessment scores for ELA have not moved upward since the 2018-19 school year. The FLDOE reports for that year, that 60% of SDIRC 3rd grade students were “reading at grade level or above.” 

Dr. Moore arrived in 2019. His first order of business unfortunately became the COVID pandemic. In the 2019-2020 school year, Florida assessments were not recorded. ELA assessment scores for 2020-2021 showed third grade students reading at “grade level or above” to be 60%. The scores dipped two points in 2021-2022 school year, and, now have return back to 60% for 2022-2023. 

These scores would suggest that all  “gains made in state rankings” are because the overall state average has declined. According to the FLDOE, that is exactly what happened. In 2018-2019, state average ELA assessment scores for grade level and above was 58%. Scores for third grade assessments recorded after the COVID year are 54% (20-21), 53% (21-22) and 50% (22-23); a combined eight point drop. Twenty-four counties have fallen below Indian River. 

Assessment scores are divided into five levels. To read at grade level is a “three.” FLDOE’s Achievement Level Description’s state, “Levels Four and Five describe growth beyond the Level Three expectations, and indicate proficiency in the standards.” Level Two is considered “below satisfactory” while Level One is described as “just beginning to access the challenging content of B.E.S.T. Standards.” According to the assessments, 15% of SDIRC third grade students are Level One which is actually much better than the state average of 27%. 

That 15% of students are at introductory Level One after third grade is alarming when considering that the SDIRC is supplemented by The Learning Alliance literacy initiative for pre-K to third grade in every elementary school. 

Secondly, how do the students perform beyond third grade? The students who make-up the third grade classes for the previous two years, showed increase to 64% of the fourth grade reading at “grade level” and 61% of fifth grade maintaining Level Three or higher. The state averages are 58% and 54% respectively. 

The real concern begins in middle school grades six through eight. SDIRC students immediately fall below the state score of 47% for each of the three grades. SDIRC posted assessment scores of 45% in sixth grade, 43% in seventh grade, and 45% in eighth, an average of 44% for SDIRC middle schools. By high school graduation, SDIRC is exactly performing at the state average. In the last two years, SDIRC and the state average is 49.5% of high school students reading at grade level or higher.

Yet, 96% of high school seniors graduated last year from SDIRC. Also, the last ‘A’ awarded to the SDIRC for its overall performance was received in 2015. However, reading scores in 2014-2015 were 51% from grades third to fifth, 52% for sixth through eighth, and 55% for high school. In 2015-2016, assessment scores were 51%, 49%, and 49% respectively.

Currently, SDIRC is the only system on the Treasure Coast that received an ‘A.’ However, what does an ‘A’ score even mean? Is it ‘Average?’ That’s a wholly other post-celebratory analysis.