MANSFIELD, Ohio – The Richland Academy School of Excellence (RASE) is gathering statewide recognition after being named one of the top 100 charter schools in Ohio for the 2013-2014 school year.
After only five years in existence, Superintendent Sandra Sutherland said she attributes the school’s ranking to the tremendous efforts of her teachers. RASE was ranked 58th with a Performance Index of 89.2 out of a complete list of approximately 400 Ohio charter schools created by the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
“These teachers take their students’ educations as personal missions, and they will work tirelessly to make sure these kids learn,” she said. “Most of the time we’re successful, sometimes there are those students you can’t reach but we do get them to move along, and as long as they’re moving in the right direction we’re good.”
The ranking comes from the Ohio Department of Education report card’s Performance Index score – a composite of annual state test scores across multiple grades and subjects that measure student achievement. Schools receive points for every student’s level of achievement; the higher the student’s level, the more points the school applies towards its index. This rewards schools and districts that improve the performance of highest and lowest performing students.
“Performance Index measures the achievement of every student, not just top students,” Sutherland explained. “It shows us that we’re really filling gaps and getting these kids educated.”
Performance Index is a key measure the state has used in rating districts in the past, and last year state legislature voted to require the score rank all districts and schools. Though some educators debate which measure to use, Performance Index offers the most quantifiable look at school performance.
Four other Richland County schools made the Plain Dealer’s list: Foundation Academy was ranked 107th with an 82.6 Performance Index, the Mansfield Community Elementary Constellation School at 116th with an 81.7 Performance Index, the Mansfield Community Middle Constellation School at 181st with a 73.3 Performance Index, and Mansfield Elective Academy at 253rd with a 57.8 Performance Index.
As superintendent of a public charter school, Sutherland is aware of the criticisms that accompany charter schools versus public schools – she herself was an educator in the public school system for 27 years prior to becoming superintendent of RASE three years ago. However, she champions the School of Excellence’s emphasis on arts and project-based learning compared to the “one size fits all” model of public schools.
“There are children that have creativity and dance aspirations and things that public schools unfortunately may or may not be able to offer,” said Sutherland. “We’re making these kids conform to public school and yet that may not be the right thing, instead of spanning that education out and trying to educate each student and work from their strengths.”
By incorporating the arts in all of the School of Excellence’s kindergarten through eighth grade classes, Sutherland says the 200 students at RASE students learn creativity, critical thinking and even math skills. These skills come in handy when the time comes to demonstrate their project-based learning.
“Kids are researching and writing papers and then they’re creating something on that topic that can be whatever they want,” she said. “We had a student who did an entire book of poetry based on the Constitution and the writers of the Constitution.”
Even the 17 teachers on staff at RASE are on board with teaching through visual arts or music – Sutherland said last year a kindergarten teacher taught her students the entire Bill of Rights by putting the words to the tune of a Lady Gaga song. The kindergartners in turn taught the eighth graders the Bill of Rights through song.
“They had the moves and the dance going on, so now I have 22 kindergartners that can sing the Bill of Rights to you. It is beyond belief,” said Sutherland. “The arts emphasis connects math and reading to the right side of the brain, so you’re using all of your knowledge and creativity.”
Sutherland also encourages her teachers and students to expand their education beyond the walls of the School of Excellence. She highlighted eighth grade Social Studies teacher Dan Jones and his use of technology in the classroom to Skype with the National Archives in Washington, D.C.
“We were the first school in the United States to do long-distance learning with the National Archives,” said Sutherland. “They’re using our framework to work with other schools to do distance learning. I think that’s a huge compliment to us.”
In the future, Sutherland hopes to continue the School of Excellence culture of collaboration, inclusion of the arts and mastering of core curriculum. Growth is also a possibility, but for now Sutherland said she wants to continue on the school’s current path.
“I think we’re on the right track,” she said. “With the arts and the project-based learning, we just need to continually work at it but we’re moving in the right direction, and it’s a pleasure to see.”
