A record of progress and student success

A recent opinion piece published in the Bonner County Daily Bee painted a deeply misleading picture of Lake Pend Oreille School District. It is unfortunate how easily false or unsupported claims can be presented as fact and quickly take hold when repeated without context or scrutiny.

The reality is that Lake Pend Oreille School District, its students, staff and leadership, are achieving great things. The growth in both academic achievement and student opportunities is something our entire community should be proud of. And the truth is, LPOSD has long been a strong district because we live in a community that rallies behind our students and schools.

Among Idaho’s 25 largest traditional public school districts, LPOSD ranks second in Idaho Reading Indicator results, third in ISAT mathematics and fourth in ISAT English language arts.

It's also important to understand what ISAT results actually measure. The ISAT uses four achievement levels: Below Basic, Basic, Proficient and Advanced. "Proficient" is not the same as "passing," and a student who does not reach the proficiency threshold has not simply "failed" the test. Proficiency is a specific, rigorous benchmark established for the assessment. The ISAT also measures growth from year to year as students advance through grade levels, and our data shows they continue to make measurable progress.

When we look beyond a single assessment and consider the broader picture of student success, the data tell the story of a strong district. The most recent State-reported graduation data show 91.2% of LPOSD students graduating, compared with 82.3% statewide. We are awaiting official results from the state for the most recent school year.

Academic achievement isn't our only measure of success. Through our One Trusted Adult initiative, 99.38% of students report having at least one adult within their school community they can go to in a time of need. That sense of connection is an important part of creating schools where students feel safe, supported, and ready to learn.

None of these achievements happen by accident. They happen because people create systems of support and, most importantly, spend time directly with students to help them learn, grow, and succeed. Our people are the investment. Student success is the return. Great teachers in front of students, supported by counselors, paraprofessionals, bus drivers, custodians, food service staff, and many others, make that success possible.

Being proud of our progress doesn't mean believing our work is finished. Continuous improvement is part of who we are. We will keep looking honestly at our results, learning from what's working, identifying where we can do better, and finding new ways to fulfill our mission: EVERY student, EVERY day!

We welcome our community to be part of that work. Look at our data. Attend our Board meetings. Ask questions. Learn more about what's happening in our schools. We don't expect our community to simply take our word for it; we encourage people to look at the information, ask questions, and check the facts.

Behind these numbers are real students and educators working incredibly hard, supported along the way by families, volunteers, businesses, and community partners. Their accomplishments are real. The progress is measurable. There is so much happening in our schools worth celebrating!

Dr. Becky Meyers

Lake Pend Oreille School District