ASHLAND — The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce released the state’s school report cards lasts week, which assess school districts’ achievements from the 2024-25 school year.
All Ashland County schools that received typical report cards achieved overall district scores of four or above, meaning they exceeded state expectations for performance.
Heartland Technical Education Center and Ashland County Community Academy receive different report cards than traditional schools.
HTEC receives a Career Technical Planning District Report Card, which includes specific marks of performance, called measures, within broad categories called components. They receive ratings for up to six measures and four components, according to Department of Education’s website.
ACCA also receives a Dropout Prevention and Recovery Report Card, which rates up to eight measures and four components.
Heartland Technical Education Center
The Heartland Technical Education Center received 4.5 out of five stars, a half point decrease from the 2023-24 report card. The score was evaluated in the following categories:
- Achievement: Three stars
- Graduation rate: Four stars
- Career and post-secondary readiness: Five stars
- Post-program outcomes: Five stars
The achievement and graduation rate scores both decreased by one point from the 2023-24 report card.
The achievement component measures the skills and knowledge learned in student’s career-technical programs using aligned technical assessments and academic achievement.
The career and post-secondary readiness component looks at how well-prepared Ohio’s students are for all future opportunities.
And post-program outcomes component looks at the proportion of students who are employed, in an apprenticeship, join the military, enter a service program, or are enrolled in postsecondary education or advanced training in the six months after leaving school.
That component also measures the proportion of students earning industry credentials before they leave high school or in the first six months after leaving school, according to the Department of Education’s website.
The center also met all nine federal indicators.
Superintendent Rodney Cheyney did not respond to offer comment.
Ashland County Community Academy
ACCA receives a dropout prevention and recovery report card, so the school earns ratings for eight measures and four components.
ACCA received an overall rating of “meets standards.” For the four components, the school received the following marks:
- Achievement component: Does not meet standards
- Progress: Meets standards
- Gap closing: Does not meet standards
- Graduation rate: Exceeds standards
All those components except graduation rate reflect decreases from the previous school year.
“Given the significant staff turnover ACCA faced leading into the 2024-25 school year, I’m pleased with our ability to maintain at least a ‘meets standards’ rating,” Superintendent Dr. Donald Copenhaver said in an email. “This achievement demonstrates the resilience of our students and the dedication of our new teachers who are ready to rebuild and strengthen our program.
“The ‘exceeds standards’ rating for our graduation rate is a particular point of pride. This is a direct testament to our mission of helping at-risk youth in our community successfully complete high school. It validates the targeted support we provide to ensure every student has a pathway to graduation,” Copenhaver said.
“However, we’re confident that the new programs we’ve implemented for 25-26, such as our blended learning and Career-Based Intervention (CBI) programs, will be reflected in future reports as we continue to build on this year’s progress,” Copenhaver said.