TUPPERS PLAINS — The Eastern Local School District has been rated “effective” by the Ohio Department of Education on this year’s school report card.

The preliminary report cards were recently released by ODE for school systems throughout the state.

The district met 21 of 26 indicators, while recording a performance index score of 94.2.

While the Eastern Local School District was rated effective, the high school received its second consecutive “excellent” rating.

Eastern High School meet 12 of 12 indicators on the report card. The school received a 102.9 performance index score of a possible 120 to receive the excellent rating. The high school also met the adequate yearly progress (AYP) standard for the third consecutive year.

Eastern Elementary School received an effective rating, meeting 10 of 15 indicators. The school received a performance index score of 91.1.

The district has been rated effective each of the last seven years. While the rating has remained the same, the district meet six more indicators this year than in 2010, when they met 15 of 26.

Some of the indicators not met included the area of mathematics in three grade levels, science in one grade and social studies in one grade.

Superintendent Scot Gheen stated that the district is working to improve on these and other areas which need improvement, but remains happy with the overall result.

“I was happy overall with our results, but there’s always room for improvement. We’ll continue to work hard to meet the indicators and the goals set for us by the state,” Gheen said. “But overall, I was proud that we had increased our indicators met.”

Both the individual schools and the district met the attendance standard set forth by ODE. The district had an over all attendance rate of 94.5 percent. The state standard is 93 percent.

The district also exceeded that standard for graduation rate with a 96.5 percent. The state standard is 90 percent.

The district did not meet the value added standard. Value added, according to ODE, measures growth or improvement over a period of time to determine the “value” gained by a student during that time period.

Gheen stated that value added can be a difficult standard to meet. He added that no matter where the student academically (limited, basic, proficient or above), value added requires the student to advance one full level each year. Once students reach a certain level it is more difficult to achieve this increase from year to year.

The district has implemented several components to help improve the district’s rating.

At the high school, the success for OGT (Ohio Graduation Test) online tool has been helpful in improving the test scores.

Short cycle assessments are also being done at each grade level.

The district has also increased the use of technology through mobile iPad labs, upgrades in the computer labs, and wireless capabilities.

The SOAR program, through the 21st Century Grant, provides additional community-based learning activities to assist in intervention and remediation for all students.

Gheen stated that the district will “use data to drive and guide instruction.”

Professional development is held throughout the year to help with the interpretation and application of the data to instructional processes. The district has also started training and development of differentiated instruction to address the variety of student needs and learning styles.

Gheen said the district plans to continue to filter down several of the successful programs which the high school uses into the middle school and elementary school.

The state report cards are issued annually. They consider district performance in a number of state indicators, including the achievement of students on statewide standardized testing, attendance rates, graduation rate and other factors, and assign a designation based on the number of state indicators met.

There are six ratings school districts can receive and include (from highest to lowest) excellent with distinction, excellent, effective, continuous improvement, academic watch, academic emergency.