HARRISON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A Fox Valley school is really exceeding expectations in the latest state report card from the Department of Public Instruction.
Kimberly’s Woodland Intermediate School had the highest individual school score in the state. That’s according to the data for the 2021-22 school year.
Woodland Intermediate School hosts 340 fifth and sixth graders.
Its overall accountability score is 98.7, which the Department of Public Instruction says significantly exceeds expectations.
“It’s a lot of work being put in by the teachers, principal, our students and working with our families,” said John Schultz, director of student improvement at Kimberly school district.
At Woodland Intermediate, only 7.6% of students are economically disadvantaged. A total of 16.4% of students are economically disadvantaged in Kimberly’s district.
But in Appleton’s district, 38.7% of their students have economic limitation. At Dunlap elementary in Appleton, 68.5% of students are economically disadvantaged.
“All districts are taking care of their kids, and we’re doing the same at Kimberly,” said Schultz. “We have kids as well, and we just make sure we know who they are, and we’re helping them and help their families.”
According to the American Psychological Association, kids from low-socioeconomic status households develop academic skills slower than kids from higher socioeconomic status groups.
But Schultz tells FOX 11 that doesn’t matter in this case.
“If you really dig into those report cards, you can see that our kids who are economically disadvantaged, the ones we do have here in Kimberly, in most areas are achieving at the same rate and growing at the same rate, or better.”
Schultz adds a smaller percentage of students get free or reduced lunch in Kimberly compared to other school districts.
“Our free and reduced rate has gone up every year, though, but we haven’t let that be a deterrent.”
Kimberly’s chronic absenteeism score is 95. Appleton’s is 89.5, and Green Bay’s score is 73.4.
The score is 100, minus the multi-year average chronic absenteeism rate, so the higher, the better the attendance.
FOX 11 asked Schultz if he thinks there’s something the district does that perhaps other schools aren’t doing.
“That’d be hard to speak to. I know what we’re doing, and I know we are extremely student-centered.”
Nicole Boettcher has an 11-year-old son and neighbor, who currently attend sixth grade at Woodland.
“They’re always challenged every day through their academics, and it’s been nothing but success,” said Boettcher.
She says it’s no surprise the school is rated so high.
“Everyday they’re excited to tell me about what they do and how great of a day they had,” said Boettcher.
All of the schools in Kimberly’s district either meet, exceed or significantly exceed expectations.
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