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School Classifications

This year’s accountability system is in transition.  This plan allows us to adjust our accountability system and begin to pivot to the new Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). 

“As we continue our transition to PARCC assessments and to the Every Student Succeeds Act, we will have more and better information regarding student progress, closing achievement gaps, and school improvement,” said Education Commissioner Ken Wagner. “We are in the process of developing a new system for school classifications that will employ additional measures beyond state assessments. Improving outcomes for students is a responsibility we all share, and we encourage our school communities to review available data on student progress in order to support good teaching and learning.”

2016 School Classifications

The 2016 school classifications have been released. Please see the following 2016 Classification Summary [PDF, 536KB].

For more detailed information please see the School & District Report Cards.

More About the Classifications

Commended Schools

Commended schools are the highest performing in the state. 

Defined by the following criteria:

Composite Index Score (CIS) is greater than or uqual to 90
 

Focus Schools

Substandard achievement in reading and math, unacceptable achievement gaps, and little or no academic progress in improving student achievement or increasing graduation rates


  • No new schools identified; currently classified schools have the opportunity to exit if criteria are met. 

Priority Schools

The lowest achievement in reading and mathematics, intolerable gaps in student performance and demonstrate little or no progress in improving student outcomes


  • No new schools identified; currently classified schools have the opportunity to exit if criteria are met. 

Rhode Island’s Request for ESEA Flexibility

The new state accountability system comes out of a request for “flexibility” regarding some of the provisions of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA - also known as No Child Left Behind or NCLB).

Request for Renewal of Rhode Island ESEA Flexibility - PPT

The full submitted proposal is available below:

 


 

 

School Performance and Classifications Resources