Indiana

The State of IPS; 2010

By Abdul Hakim-Shabazz

I almost missed this.  Indianapolis Public Schools  have released their 2010 State of the District report.    And although how you interpret data is in the eye of the beholder,  I think it?s fair to say that IPS has pretty much been flat when it comes to progress and achievement as opposed to the prior year.  Here?s a breakdown?

Demographics

• IPS had its smallest decrease in enrollment in six years, losing only 547 students from 2008-2009 school year.  Total enrollment is at 33,824.
• IPS is 55% Black, 23% White and 16% Hispanic.
• 52% Male, 48% Female.
• 84% of the students are on free and reduced lunch.
• 20% of the population is classified as special education
• 4% are homeless.

Academic Achievement

• IPS’ graduation rate went from 47% to 49%.
• The percentage of students passing ISTEP+ tends to drop as students go from grades 3 to 8.
• 45% of 3rd graders passed the Math and Science portion of the exam, while only 28% of 8th graders passed the exam.
• Sidener Academy was the best performing IPS school with 99% of students passing both the English and Math portions of the exam.
• In grades 3, 4,7,and 8 Black students performed near the bottom of English/Language Arts.
• White students in grades 3-8 performed dead last in English and Math.
• Hispanic students were the best performing group.
• Five IPS magnet schools received nationwide recognition as Outstanding Magnet Schools.

Administrative Supervision

• Twenty teachers were removed from the classroom because of poor instruction.
• Student compliance with IPS’ uniform policy was better at the elementary level than the secondary.

Student Discipline

• In-House school suspensions were down for the first semester from 3,753 last year to 2,082 this year.  However the percentage of repeat offenders went from 63% to 73%.
• Out of school suspensions  went from 2,473 to 2,082 and 62% of the suspensions were repeat offenders.

The report also cites IPS’s financial troubles such as it $26 million budget shortfall.  And it says the District will lose $12 million in its Capital and  transportation budgets due to tax caps.

You can see the full presentation here.

Full post as published by Indiana Barrister on March 17, 2010 (boomark / email).