Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) has received a two-star overall rating on its newly released report card, indicating that the district does not meet state standards. This is the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic that the Ohio Department of Education has released overall ratings for schools and districts. As the largest district in southwest Ohio and the second-largest school system in the state, CPS serves over 35,000 students across more than 60 schools.
The rating system implemented last year in Ohio awards up to five stars in five categories: achievement, progress, gap closing, graduation, and early literacy. A three-star rating indicates that the school or district has met state standards, while more than three stars signifies that they have exceeded state expectations. Unfortunately, 27 out of the 61 rated schools in the CPS district received overall ratings of less than three stars.
Notably, three CPS schools scored five stars overall, including Spencer Center for Gifted and Exceptional Students, Rising Stars at Carthage, and Walnut Hills High School. Hyde Park School and Kilgour School were close behind with four-and-a-half overall star ratings.
However, CPS struggled in several areas. The district scored two stars for achievement and progress, and one star for graduation and early literacy. Last year, CPS scored two stars in every category except for graduation, where they received one star.
Chronic absenteeism rates were a concerning issue for CPS students, with an overall rate of 46% during the last school year. This problem was particularly worse for Black students, economically disadvantaged students, and students with disabilities. Gap closing was the only component in which the district met state standards, scoring three stars.
Early literacy was another area of concern, with the majority of CPS’s schools teaching elementary grades falling below state standards. Nineteen CPS schools scored only one star in this category, while 17 schools received two stars. Only a few schools, including Spencer Center for Gifted and Exceptional Students, Hyde Park School, Kilgour School, and Clifton Area Neighborhood School, scored four or five stars for early literacy.
Furthermore, graduation rates at most CPS schools did not meet state standards. Apart from the School for Creative and Performing Arts, Spencer Center for Gifted and Exceptional Students, Walnut Hills High School, and Clark Montessori High School, only two other schools met state standards in this category: Hughes STEM High School and Shroder High School. The remaining 11 CPS high schools scored one or two stars for graduation.
Overall, the report card reveals that CPS still has significant room for improvement in meeting state standards. The district has yet to provide an official statement about the ratings but Superintendent Iranetta Wright is expected to address the issue on Thursday. It is crucial for CPS to address the areas of concern highlighted in the report and work towards ensuring that all students receive an education that meets state standards.
