SHELBY – As graduation looms for the class of 2018, Shelby City Schools is focused on helping its juniors meet state graduation requirements.
Assistant Superintendent Paul Walker reported to the Shelby Board of Education last week that Shelby High School is extremely busy as students finish end-of-course exams. According to new state standards for the class of 2018, these exams are critical to earning a high school diploma in Ohio.
“Our high school students are really taking it more serious than I think they have the previous year,” Walker said. “Part of it has been the staff here and the communication from everybody, and the reality is setting in that these tests are going to count towards their graduation.”
It’s a reality setting in for high school juniors across the state. According to The Plain Dealer, the Ohio Department of Education released data earlier this month showing how many high school juniors in each district and charter high school are on track to graduate under the new pathway to earn a diploma.
The data shows that 47.7 percent of Shelby High School juniors have already met the requirements to graduate in 2018. The school has 27 percent of its juniors highly likely to meet graduation requirements, but 22.4 percent of students that need additional support and intervention if they are going to graduate on time. Only 2.9 percent of students did not have enough data reported.
“It’s a reminder for people in the community that these tests are extremely important to the kids,” Walker said.
Under the new requirements, high school students need 18 points on seven end-of-course tests to graduate. Students can earn one point if they score as Limited on a state end-of-course exam, two for Basic, three for Proficient, four for Accelerated and five for Advanced.
The end-of-course tests include: Algebra 1 or Integrated Math 1; Geometry or Integrated Math 2, American Government, American History, English 1, English 2, and Biology. Students must have a minimum of four points in math, four points in English and six points across science and social studies.
Students have the opportunity to earn as many as 35 points. They won’t have to score as Proficient on all seven tests to reach 18 points, but just scoring as Basic on all seven tests won’t reach the 18 points, either.
Students can also receive credit towards graduation by earning a State Board of Education-approved, industry recognized credits in a single career field and scoring high on a work-readiness test. The class of 2018 in Shelby will also be taking the ACT during a free, one-time statewide test this spring; earning “remediation-free” scores show readiness for graduation.
One month ago, The Plain Dealer reported that Ohio superintendents were warning of a graduation “apocalypse” as they feared one-third of all high school juniors across the state would not meet the new requirements.
Other districts in Richland County have reported lower numbers than Shelby in terms of students that have already met graduation requirements; Plymouth-Shiloh Local School District reported zero students already meeting requirements, but 65.5 percent of students highly likely to meet requirements.
“The fear is a lot of students might not graduate on time or at all if they don’t reach these points or credentials,” Walker said. “We’re trying to come up with some plans for the kids after they take the initial tests and get their results back.”
If students score low on their first attempt at the end-of-course exams, Walker noted they have unlimited chances to complete and pass the tests and the state will accept the best of all test scores. However, re-taking the exams while balancing a course load presents a challenge.
“The hard thing is, if you take Algebra 1 and maybe you didn’t score high enough, you’re behind so you have to get caught up while you have other courses you’re taking,” Walker said.
“It’s tricky, but with having two guidance counselors at the high school, they are doing a phenomenal job at calling kids down to have conferences with them, showing them points and credentials for end-of-course exams, and making them aware of what they’re going to have to retake.”
Walker noted the new graduation requirements are still being worked through as state educators evaluate whether the standards are too rigorous. He noted a new incoming president could affect changes, as well.
“You can’t stop time though, you have other courses to take and you only have so much time to graduate,” Walker said. “We’re just going to keep working with these kids as much as we can.”
