Youngstown schools work to improve academic performance

YOUNGSTOWN — The city school district is embarking on a program designed to improve student academic performance by concentrating on reading, mathematics, attendance and graduation rates.

It’s part of the Ohio Improvement Process, a state system of support for school districts focusing on improving the academic performance of all students, said Superintendent Wendy Webb.

It will become part of the district’s academic strategic plan, she said.

Youngstown’s involvement is part of an ongoing effort to raise overall district performance on its state local report card, which grades schools on the academic performance of their students. The district was rated in academic emergency this year, the only public school district in Ohio with that lowest report card rating.

Youngstown launched the process last November, said Anthony DiRenzo, a former Youngstown school administrator and now an OIP facilitator for the Ohio Department of Education.

He outlined the effort Tuesday for the city school board, explaining that it will be a three-year plan, building on current strengths and cleaning up weaknesses.

Read more in Wednesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com