More Than A Grade

More Than A Grade

By Brian Gillis

Lamar R-I Superintendent

This month, I want to take a short break from highlighting the outstanding people who make up the Lamar R-I School District to address a topic that has recently received considerable attention across Missouri: the new A–F School Report Card. Governor Kehoe has stated, "Parents deserve clear, easy-to-understand information about how schools are performing so they can make the best decisions for their children."

I agree with that statement. Parents and community members deserve transparency and accurate information about their schools. However, as we recently wrapped up parent-teacher conferences, with our buildings filled with parents, grandparents, students, teachers, and community members, I couldn't help but think about something. I believe the families of Lamar already have a pretty good understanding of what happens inside our schools. They see it in their children's experiences, their conversations with teachers, the opportunities available to students, and the relationships built throughout our district.

So, what exactly does this new A–F report card tell us, and perhaps more importantly, what does it leave out?

First, it is important to understand that the A–F report card is not the same as Missouri's Annual Performance Report (APR), which continues to be used in the state's accreditation system. The A–F report card is intended to provide families with a simplified picture of school performance. While that sounds reasonable, I believe we must be careful not to confuse a simplified picture with the complete story.

One of my concerns is that the report card relies on assessment data from the 2024–2025 school year. That means it does not reflect the changes, improvements, and work that have taken place since then. Education is constantly evolving, and our teachers and staff continually adjust to meet students' needs. A grade based on past performance cannot fully capture where a school stands today or the direction it is moving.

Another concern is what the grade does not fully account for. Factors such as student poverty, special education needs, English language learners, and the individual challenges students bring to school can have a significant impact on educational outcomes. Every student walks through our doors with different experiences, abilities, and needs. Our responsibility is to meet those students where they are and help them move forward. That work is not always easily reflected in a single letter grade. Consider graduation, for example. We certainly want every student to graduate in four years, but sometimes life gets in the way. When a student faces challenges that delay graduation, and our teachers and staff continue working with that student until they earn a diploma, I consider that a success worth celebrating. The traditional four-year graduation measure does not tell that entire story. 

Then there is the question of what happens after graduation. At Lamar, we take tremendous pride in preparing students for life beyond high school, regardless of the pathway they choose. We are proud that 83% of our LCTC students graduate with an industry-ready credential, while 93% earn a stackable credential. Even more importantly, 96% of our seniors transition into the workforce, college, or military service. These are meaningful accomplishments that represent real opportunities for our kids and reflect the work happening throughout our district.

Yet these outcomes are not directly reflected in the new A–F grade. And what about the lessons that cannot be measured on a state assessment?

Throughout the year, our students participate in community service projects, park and trash cleanups, Shop with a Cop, and numerous other activities that teach the importance of giving back. We host events such as Bingo for Books, bringing families into our schools and putting books into the hands of children. These experiences help develop responsible, caring, and productive citizens. I would argue that these lessons are every bit as important to a student's future as the material measured on a standardized test.

To be clear, I am not suggesting that academic achievement and accountability are unimportant. Quite the opposite. We should hold our schools, teachers, and students to high expectations. We should examine academic performance, recognize areas of concern, and continually work to improve. That is our responsibility, and one we take seriously. However, when approximately 84% of a school's grade is tied to state assessment performance, it is fair to ask whether that grade tells the complete story of what a school accomplishes.

The new report card was established through an executive order from Governor Kehoe rather than through legislation passed by the General Assembly. Regardless of how the system was developed, I believe it presents an opportunity for an important conversation about what we value in public education and how we measure success. For our parents and community members, I encourage you to continue asking questions, following our district's progress, attending school events, and celebrating the accomplishments of our students. Our website and social media pages are great places to start, but nothing compares to walking through the doors of one of our schools and seeing the work taking place.

Whatever letter grade Lamar R-I receives, it will represent one measure of our performance, not the entirety of who we are. It cannot fully capture the teacher who stays late to help a struggling student, the staff member who makes sure a child feels welcome, or the administrator who works tirelessly to create opportunities for kids. Those things matter. They matter to our students, they matter to our families, and they matter to me. We will continue to review the data, identify opportunities for improvement, and hold ourselves accountable for providing the best education possible. At the same time, we will never lose sight of the bigger picture: preparing students not simply to perform well on a test, but to succeed in life.

At Lamar R-I, our success will never be defined by a single letter. It will be defined by the opportunities we create, the lives we impact, and the futures we help our students build. 

The mission of the Lamar R-1 School District is to provide quality education for each student that will impact his or her life with meaningful purpose and successful direction.