Ashland Schools – A Community Beacon

I met recently with Superintendent of Schools, James Adams, and Middle School principal, David DiGirolamo regarding Ashland’s Middle School achievement of Level One status. There was no mistaking the pride these two educators have in the entire school system but it is outstanding for two of the three schools providing test results to be rated Level One.
Of all 336 school districts in the Commonwealth, only 80 are Level 1, most others are evenly scattered at 2, 3 and 4 with three school districts at Level 5, one of which is in state receivership. Schooldigger.com, an on-line ranking system of the nations schools by state has Ashland High School 13th out of 340 and Ashland Middle School at 27th out of 468 others.
For an entire school district to be rated Level 1, all the testing schools must be at that level. Currently, Ashland High School and the Middle School are there. The David Mindess Elementary School has a target of improving math and English scores. Adams said “We assess kids scoring under 75. The teachers have created individual success plans for each of the students. We even mailed them home.”
The Mindess School, grades 3-5, has Adams’ laser focus. “Students coming into the 6th grade are not at grade level for math. They are struggling.” To address, and, ultimately, solve this problem, a Title 1 grant has provided funds for a new math teacher.
What’s the big deal, a parent might ask? Level 1 means that the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education uses the Progress and Performance Index (PPI) to assess the improvement of each district and school toward its own targets. DiGirolamo, since his arrival, has been looking at student test data and after several years of analysis, grant utilization and teacher involvement, Level One status was reached following MCAS testing in May 2016; the raw scores were revealed in July with the honored Level 1 announced in August.
While the Federal Government has provided the grant money, it is dwindling. Adams said $125,000 was received for FY16-17 but only $113,000 is expected this year (FY17-18). Adams lamented, “The shortfall has to be found elsewhere in my budget.” The Federal Government bases the grant on the number of low income families.
DiGirolamo stated the teaching conforms to standards and not the MCAS tests. “We don’t hammer the importance of MCAS tests. The teachers and administration focus on targeting individual and state learning goals.”
Adams added that when students come from out of town and other school districts “we assess kids well. We do a good job of identifying needs and we fill in the gaps.” I asked the opposite question of students Ashland is losing to the burgeoning and popular charter school system. Adams was ready for this. “In 2014, we lost 80 kids out of the 5th grade to a charter school in Framingham. This year, only 17.”
With two of the three testing schools at Level 1, and aggressive efforts in place at the Mindess school to achieve the same, I asked Adams and DiGirolamo what they are working for in the future. Adams was succinct with three.
Get the entire district up to Level 1
Sustain the existing level status
Get the word out regarding quality education available in Ashland.
Future technology is right around the corner, Current MCAS tests are on paper amid secure delivery and strict instructions on implementation. Testing next year for grades 7 and 8 will be on computer with all grades, 3-12, electronically inputted by 2019.
I remarked that when visiting a medical professional, diplomas and achievements are framed and displayed in prominent locations. “Is there a certificate or plaque presented by the state parents and visitors can see?” The focus the two shared was a low-key approach by notifying teachers, students and parents that the Middle School was in an elevated status.
Adams concluded our meeting with information he received from a realtor friend assisting prospective buyers with a comparison of local school systems. He paraphrased the response. “They want Ashland because of the schools.”