Oasis Academy received 5-star rankings for the elementary grades and both the middle and high schools from 2020-21 based on the students’ performances on state standardized tests.
Oasis Academy received the maximum results from the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium testing administered during the past school year.
Oasis Academy received a 5-star rating for the elementary grades, middle school and high school. According to the Nevada Department of Education, each school receives a star rating for its performance on state standardized tests that determine the proficiency level of students within their core subjects. Schools receive an index score from 1-100 that is associated with a one- to five-star school rating.
Each school’s star rating is aligned with the federal Every Student Succeeds Act and uses multiple metrics to ascertain a school’s overall performance.
The results showed both Oasis elementary and middle school students tested above the state averages in English Language Arts and math. High school students also tested above the state averages for the ACT.
Oasis Academy stated in a release the rankings are especially incredible considering students were only recently back to in-person learning when testing was conducted.
Because of these scores, Oasis Academy received 5-stars again through the Nevada School Performance Framework. Both Tisdale and Melissa Mackedon, chief executive officer, said Oasis is proud of staff, students and families for enduring the coronavirus pandemic.
“Oasis continued a rigorous education program during the remote learning period,” Tisdale said. “Teachers worked hard to meet every student’s needs every day and their hard work shows in these test results. Contrary to what much of the nation is facing in the COVID slide, Oasis students remained strong and grew in the midst of the pandemic.”
Due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on learning and federal waivers that eliminated the traditionally required 95% participation rate for 3-8 assessments, the NDE said the results do not provide a comprehensive view of Nevada student performance. However, the information can help educators understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and identify areas where students are in need of additional support and improvement.
Mackedon said Oasis’ student growth was remarkable during the 2020-21 school year.
“It is total credit to our teachers who took the mid-year data, which looked pretty dismal, put their eye on the ball and made it happen for our students. They are heroes,” she said.
The NDE said each school in the Silver State receives a star rating for its performance on state standardized tests that determine the proficiency level of students within their core subjects.
Due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on learning and federal waivers that eliminated the traditionally required 95.0% participation rate for grades 3-8 assessments, the NDE said results do not provide a comprehensive view of Nevada student performance.
“We are grateful for the herculean efforts educators and families across Nevada underwent to ensure students continued to learn despite the numerous obstacles they faced last year,” said Jhone Ebert, state superintendent of public instruction. “Because of the impacts of the pandemic on education, assessing the quality of schools’ support of students is not a valid use of this year’s assessment results; however, the assessment results can tell us how our students are doing and support us in advancing equity through our efforts to close opportunity gaps between and among student groups.”
Angela Viera contributed to this article.
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