New RI school classifications revealed

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - A new system for measuring accountability in Rhode Island's education system finds 16 new schools in need of intervention, and commends 26 others for outstanding achievement.

On Friday, the Rhode Island Department of Education released its 2012 School Classifications.  The new classification system was developed as part of the Rhode Island Accountability System approved by the U.S. Department of Education.

"It's a new way of looking at school performance," explained Rhode Island's Deputy Education Commissioner David Abbot. "It's much more detailed than we've ever had before."

• Click here to see report cards for each Rhode Island school
• Click here to see report cards for each school district
• Click here to see the statewide education report card

Under the new system, schools are placed into one of six classifications:

• Commended
• Leading
• Typical
• Warning
• Focus
• Priority

"The majority of our schools are in that middle ground that we labeled 'typical.' And then at the other ends of the spectrum we have schools that need direct intervention immediately," said Abbot.

29 schools were identified as needing intervention, including 13 that were previously identified as needing intervention.  The 16 new schools in need of intervention include Calcutt Middle School in Central Falls, the NEL/CPS Construction Career Academy in Cranston, the Agnes B. Hennessey School in East Providence, the Dr. M.H. Sullivan School in Newport.

Twelve Providence schools are also newly labeled at needing intervention, including Governor Christopher Del Sesto Middle School, Mary E. Fogarty Elementary School and Robert L. Bailey IV Elementary School.

Nine percent of Rhode Island schools were classified as "Commended" for either high performance or significant improvement.  They include schools from the following districts:

• Chariho Regional (4 "Commended" schools)
• Barrington (2 "Commended" schools)
• Cranson (2 "Commended" schools)
• East Greenwich (2 "Commended" schools)
• Scituate (2 "Commended" schools)
• Bristol-Warren (1 "Commended" school)
• Cumberland (1 "Commended" school)
• New Shoreham (1 "Commended" school)
• North Kingstown (1 "Commended" school)
• North Providence (1 "Commended" school)
• Providence (1 "Commended" school)
• Smithfield (1 "Commended" school)
• South Kingstown (1 "Commended" school)
• Tiverton (1 "Commended" school)

Five public charter schools also achieved the highest classification.

The deputy education commissioner says the classifications are a tool to help recognize outstanding achievement and provide support to low-achieving schools, but they do not tell the whole story.

"My advice to parents is to take that next step, don't just look at the classification or the label, but go on our website, [view] the school report card ... and start asking questions.