The Nebraska Department of Education released the Nebraska Education Profile (NEP) to the public on Friday, December 21, 2018. The NEP includes information about demographics, state accountability and student achievement. Classifications related to Accountability for a Quality Education System Today and Tomorrow, or AQuESTT, that allow schools to focus on educational equity for their students, ensuring all students across backgrounds and circumstances have access and opportunities for success are part of the release. AQuESTT annually classifies schools and districts as excellent, great, good, or needs improvement are included. Valentine Community Schools is classified as great.
Nebraska Student-Centered Assessment System (NSCAS) results from the spring 2018 testing were also released. NSCAS English Language Arts (ELA) and NSCAS Mathematics, rigorous assessments with high expectations for college and career readiness, were given in grades three through eight, and the NSCAS Science assessment was given in grades five and eight. Nebraska students continue to show growth and improvement across grade levels. More than half of students are meeting or exceeding expectations in math, ELA, and science. The NSCAS ACT is given to all Nebraska juniors statewide and 50 percent or more are on track or meeting ACT benchmarks.
The results of classification and assessment data can be found on the Nebraska Education Profile (NEP). School and district snapshots provide a quick look at accountability performance while full data profiles provide deeper information and include all Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)-required components. Comparisons can also be made of schools and districts to similar peers in the state.