A review of the records shows Fond du Lac High School has the lowest score in the latest school report card of any comparable public high school in the Fox Valley and the only high school in the Fox Valley Association that met few expectations. All public high schools in Oshkosh, Appleton, Neenah, Menasha, Hortonville, Kimberly and Kaukauna scored higher than Fond du Lac. Fond du Lac superintendent Dr. Jim Sebert says even though Fond du Lac High School (57.9) Met Few Expectations, the school improved in every category. He says the school took a five point deduction for attendance that lowered the overall improved score. Sebert says that was due to a change made for students who are tardy to a class. “So the shift was made to say if a student was tardy to a class for whatever reason let’s take care of that at the classroom level and miss less instruction time. I think at this time we’re still having challenges where we work together to make that adjustment,” Sebert said. Responding to people who say the district should be focusing on improving academics instead of spending money on a new artificial turf football field. Sebert says academics is job one in the school district and he says that will never waver. But he says the athletic complex would enhance the district. “…and it also would provide a number of our students with advantages, it would be an advantage to our community. I see them as different types of issues. I see an athletic complex as something that’s important to a lot of people in the community, it’s important for our kids,” Sebert told WFDL news. Oshkosh North (69.7) meets expectations, Oshkosh West (76.8) exceeds expectations. Hortonville (78.9) exceeds expectations, Kimberly High School (87.3) significantly exceeded expectations, Appleton East (67.2) Appleton West (67.6) meet expectations, Appleton North (75.1) exceeds expectations. Menasha (69.2) Neenah (72.2) and Kaukauna (69.8) meet expectations. Fond du Lac High School (57.9) meets few expectations. Sebert says while there are concerns within the latest school report cards there is also some positive news. Overall the Fond du Lac School District Meets Expectations with a score of 66.9. Sebert says there are six schools in the district that either exceed or significantly exceed expectations. Sebert says what’s puzzling is that Chegwin Elementary School Failed to Meet expectations with a score of 44.9 after exceeding expectations last year. “When you look at the DPI data anytime you have those report cards fluctuate ten or more points on the overall score like Chegwin’s did the Department really considers that an outlier and that it might not truly reflect the magnitude of change in performance and encourages interpreting it with caution,” Sebert told WFDL news. “We’re really trying to dive into that.” Sebert says a big challenge at Chegwin is that more than half of the students come from families who live in poverty.
