It is great that there are schools in Oakland that were recently recognized by the state for excellence. However, I suspect that the metrics that the state prioritizes (like test proficiency rates and attendance rates) might tell more about the student populations that these schools serve rather than the instruction being delivered inside these schools. As a result, these awards reinforce the narrative that there are only a few “good schools” in OUSD, steering demand towards these schools. For enrollment stabilization purposes, OUSD (and the enrollment office specifically) should be recognizing and advertising schools that show excellence in instruction as measured by academic growth (across many years and across many subjects.) When this is done, we see many more “good schools,” some of which are doing better than those that received this state award.
It is great that there are schools in Oakland that were recently recognized by the state for excellence. However, I suspect that the metrics that the state prioritizes (like test proficiency rates and attendance rates) might tell more about the student populations that these schools serve rather than the instruction being delivered inside these schools. As a result, these awards reinforce the narrative that there are only a few “good schools” in OUSD, steering demand towards these schools. For enrollment stabilization purposes, OUSD (and the enrollment office specifically) should be recognizing and advertising schools that show excellence in instruction as measured by academic growth (across many years and across many subjects.) When this is done, we see many more “good schools,” some of which are doing better than those that received this state award.