July 22, 2024

Lindbergh students are demonstrating high growth and high achievement across all grade levels and content areas, consistently outperforming nationwide trends for student academic growth and achievement during the 2023-24 school year.

In addition, students at Lindbergh High School are graduating prepared for success, as evidenced by pass rates for Advanced Placement tests that exceed state and national averages. LHS students passed almost 86% of Advanced Placement tests taken in 2024, compared to a Missouri pass rate of 70%, and a global pass rate of 65.4% on the tests that are administered at LHS. In addition, 17 of the 31 AP tests taken by LHS students had a pass rate higher than 90%. 

During the annual Student Growth and Achievement Report on July 18, the district’s Teaching and Learning team presented data for each grade level  to the Board of Education, and provided an overview of strengths and areas of focus.

“Our teachers continue to prioritize student growth, meet the needs of individual learners, and incorporate Lindbergh Life Success Skills into everything they do; and these results are a tribute to that outstanding work,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Tony Lake. 

• WATCH: Board Workshop Link Here

Compass Goals: Academic, Growth Targets

Academic growth and achievement is a top priority the district’s annual Compass Plan goals report, with the following targets set by the Teaching and Learning Department: 

• 80+% of third grade students demonstrate “low risk” or “advanced” on CBM reading assessments

• 80+% of students meet “average, high average, or high quintile” targets for achievement in math and reading based on NWEA spring benchmark assessments.

Early Reading

The board report highlighted targets met in each area of assessment. Executive Director of Elementary Education Dr. Craig Hamby began the presentation by focusing on early reading and math growth in grades K-3. At the elementary level, 87% of 3rd grade students were low risk/advanced achievement in curriculum based measurement (CBM) of reading, in spring 2024.

“We now have a better approach to teaching reading, and teachers are better equipped to teach reading, than in any time in my career at Lindbergh,” Hamby said. “Our practices are solid with what we are doing for kids, and we are seeing the results we predicted.”

NWEA Grades 3-8, English 1, Algebra 1

Executive Director of Assessment and Student Services Dr. Jill Lawson continued by sharing NWEA assessment data for reading and math in grades 3-8. She highlighted that every single Lindbergh student is scoring in the high growth, high performance quadrant for NWEA’s nationally normed data. 

“This is exactly where we want our students to be,” Lawson said. “These numbers are outstanding and they are a tribute to the hard work of our students and teachers!”

NWEA academic targets met or exceeded include:

• 83% of third-graders and 84% of fourth graders scored in the average to high achievement quintile for reading at the end of the 2023-24 school year, exceeding the district’s target. 

• 80% of fourth-graders scored in the average to high achievement quintile for math at the end of the 2023-24 school year.

• Reading achievement growth over the past three years:

  • Sixth grade: 11% 

  • Seventh grade: 6%

  • Eighth grade: 9%

• 82% of sixth-graders scored in the average to high achievement quintile for math at the end of the 2023-24 school year

In addition, 84% of English 1 students at Lindbergh High School scored in the average to high achievement quintile for math at the end of the 2023-24 school year.

New NWEA Compass Goal

The district continues to prioritize student growth, adding a compass goal for 2024-25 that focuses on NWEA growth quintiles in math and reading: 70+% of students met the “average, high average, or high quintile” for growth in math and reading based on NWEA spring benchmark assessments. 

Currently, 65% of students are meeting average to high growth targets in NWEA Reading for grades 3-9, and 65.3% of students are meeting average to high growth targets in NWEA Math for grades 3-9.

Advanced Placement Exam Success

Lindbergh High School students are outpacing state and national pass rates for Advanced Placement tests across grade levels and subject areas, Chief Academic Officer Dr. Tara Sparks shared during the closing portion of the board report.

During the 2023-24 school year, 524 LHS students took 1,116 AP exams. Of those students, close to 86% (450 students) scored 3 or higher. Students who earn 3 or higher on AP exams qualify for college credit in the state of Missouri. LHS’ pass rate is compared to a Missouri pass rate of 70%, and a global pass rate of 65.4% on the tests that are administered at LHS. In addition, 17 of the 31 AP tests taken by LHS students had a pass rate higher than 90%. 

“We’ve increased the number of students who take AP exams … that means students are taking more rigorous courseloads and also that they are able to transfer this learning into their assessments,” Sparks said. “LHS has also increased in the number of exams individual students take. We are really excited to see that level of engagement for our students.”