The Utah State Office of Education has released its second report card for Utah schools. The 2014 grades range from A’s to Fs, with most schools getting a B.
Ninety-three elementary schools and just six high schools received an A grade. Included on that list were Davis High, Viewmont High, Northern Utah Academy for Math, Engineering and Science, Success Academy, the Utah Academy of Science and InTech Collegiate High School.
Principal Jason Stanger at Logan’s InTech said the school’s focus on providing college-level classes to students helps set them apart.
“This year, four of the six schools [that received A’s] are all early-college high schools in the state,” Stanger said. “You would expect them to do well; they are schools that are helping their students earn significant numbers of college credits, and that’s above and beyond concurrent enrollment and advanced placement, which is offered in most high schools across the state.”
Eighteen elementary schools and 12 high schools received failing grades, including Beaver High, Wendover High and Myton Elementary.
Stanger said part of InTech’s success comes from its close proximity to Utah State University; however, he said other things that helped the school receive an A, like its small size, could be replicated by schools hoping to improve their grades in the future.
“We’re very small, and that’s something that I think is very helpful to us and might be something that districts look at and have looked at—how do they build smaller schools or smaller learning communities within large schools? That has an impact for many of our students,” Stanger said.
Stanger said students will celebrate their success and teachers and staff will be taking a look at the data to see where improvements can be made.
“I think if anyone looks at the data, it also would suggest that even the best schools in the state have some work ahead of them,” Stanger said. “So, we take some time to celebrate and then we say, ‘what’s next?’”
A few things InTech will be working on in the future: improving the school’s graduation rate and students’ writing abilities.
To learn how your school did on this year’s report card, visit the Utah State Office of Education website.