The Ohio Department of Education (ODE) gave the Boardman Local School District an excellent rating when so-called state report cards were released last week.
      The ODE said that the local school district met 26 of 26 indicators on its annual report card, and indicated upwards of 95 per cent of eligible seniors graduated from the Boardman School Local School District.
      According to the ODE, the Boardman Local School had an average daily attendance last year of some 4,662 students.
      Enrollment figures show nearly 80 per cent caucasion students and 10 per cent black (non-Hispanic) students; and about 38 per cent of the student body is listed as “economically disadvantaged” and 14 per cent of the students have disabilities.
      According to the ODE’s report card, in almost all grades from third thru 12th grade, most students rate at 90 per cent or better on proficiency tests. Only notable exceptions are in fifth grade math and eighth grade science, according to the ODE.
      With its most recent rating, the Boardman Local School District earned its fifth consecutive excellent rating and ninth total excellent rating from the ODE. All seven schools in the district have also achieved an excellent rating for the first time since the report card rating system was established.
      “This year’s local report cards reflect the strongest achievement data we have ever attained,” Supt. Frank Lazerri said this week.
      “The Performance Index, which reflects the achievement of every student enrolled for the full academic year, has increased to 103.3, the highest in Boardman School District’s history,” Supt. Lazerri added.
      At the district level, all nine federally identified sub-groups met the Adequate Yearly Progress targets. Boardman Schools is one of only twenty districts in Ohio with nine sub-groups. This means that nearly every child had high achievement regardless of his/her background.
      “It is our goal to continue to provide an outstanding educational experience for every student in the Boardman community,’ the superintendent noted.
      All public schools districts, expect the Youngstown City Schools and Struthers met the 26 indicators for the excellent rating, including Canfield, Poland and South Range/ Struthers is rated as effective meeting 23 of 26 indicators; while the Youngstown City Schools are in an academic watch (the lowest rating), meeting only two of the 26 indicators.
      None of the 17 charter schools where Boardman-based students attend, met more than 15 of the indicator standards, according to the ODE. Those 18 schools take away more than $800,000 in pupil funding from the Boardman Local School District.
      The ratings of the charter community schools are listed:
       •Alternative Education Academy, academic watch (met five indicators); Buckeye On-Line School, continuous improvement (met 11 indicators); Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow, continuous improvement (met five indicators); Horizon Science Academy, continuous improvement (met four indicators); Legacy Academy. not rated and met no indicators; Life Skills of Youngstown, academic watch, met no indicators); Mahoning County High School, academic emergency (met no indicators); Mahoning Unlimited Classroom, continuous improvement, (met eight indicators); Mahoning Valley Opportunity, academic emergency (met two indicators); Mollie Kessler, academic emergency (met only one indicator); Ohio Connections Academy, effective (met just 15 of 26 indicators; Ohio Virtual Academy, effective (met just 15 of 26 indicators); Southside Academy, academic emergency (met no indicators); Stambaugh Charter Academy, continuous improvement (met only three indicators); Summit Academy Secondary, academic emergency (met no indicators); Summit Academy, academic emergency (met no indicators); and Virtual Community School, continuous improvement (met only 4 of 26 indicators).
      About 100 students have left the Boardman Local School System to attend the listed lower performing community schools, according to the ODE.