Pickerington Schools is embarking upon an exciting journey to enhance student success and well-being. The district has set forth some ambitious yet achievable goals to be reached by the end of the 2024-2025 school year. We aim to have at least 80% of our students meet specific criteria in diverse categories, from academic achievement to feeling a sense of belonging. These goals are not just aspirations; they come with a carefully crafted strategy designed to bring about an average yearly increase of 8 percentage points over the next three years. In this article, we'll take a closer look at these objectives and the positive steps being taken to achieve them.

Academic Growth: iReady Reading and Math Diagnostics

One of our primary goals at Pickerington Schools is to ensure that, by the end of the 2024-2025 school year, a minimum of 80% of students will meet typical growth standards as measured by the iReady Reading and Math diagnostics. Typical growth, in simple terms, means the average yearly improvement of our students at each grade level. For iReady Reading (K–12) and iReady Math (K-8), achieving this 80% goal by the end of 2024-2025 will mean increasing by an average of 8.5 percentage points each year for the next two years.

Academic Proficiency: Ohio State Tests (OSTs)

In addition to growth, we are equally dedicated to ensuring that at least 80% of our students demonstrate proficiency in the English Language Arts and Math Ohio State Tests (OSTs) by the end of the 2024-2025 school year. This means our students will not only grow but excel in these core subjects. To meet this 80% goal, we'll need to increase by an average of 7 percentage points each year for the next two years. We believe in our students' potential to achieve these ambitious milestones.

Student Well-being: The Panorama Survey

Beyond academics, we cherish the overall well-being of our students, and their sense of belonging is vital to us. To understand this aspect, we administer the Panorama survey to students in grades 3-12 twice a year. Our goal is to have a minimum of 80% of students indicating a strong sense of belonging by the end of the 2024-2025 school year. This goal may sound ambitious, but we're confident in our ability to foster a sense of belonging in our schools. To meet this 80% goal, we'll need to increase by an average of 15 percentage points each year for the next two years.

Strategies for Success

At Pickerington Schools, we've not just set these goals; we're actively working on strategies and initiatives to help us achieve them. Our approach includes personalized learning programs, targeted academic support, continuous professional development for our educators, and initiatives to foster a more inclusive and supportive school environment.

Pickerington Schools is passionate about our students' success and well-being. By setting high standards for academic growth, proficiency, and the fostering of a strong sense of belonging, we're making it clear that we're here to support the holistic development of our students. Achieving these goals will be a rewarding journey, and we're excited to embark on it with our amazing students and their families. Together, we're shaping a bright future for our community!