Press Releases – Media room

GreatSchools.org launches nationwide ratings update for public schools

New ratings emphasize equity and elevate student academic progress, or “growth,” as a key measure of school quality.

OAKLAND, CA (September 24, 2020) — GreatSchools.org, the leading provider of school information, is launching updated Equity and Summary Ratings for K-12 public schools across the nation today. The new methodology gives parents, advocacy organizations, and other community stakeholders a view of school quality that prioritizes equitable outcomes. The new Equity Rating will now include student growth and college readiness metrics in addition to proficiency rates. The Summary Rating will also shift to emphasize student growth relative to test score performance in order to focus on how well schools are helping students learn each school year.
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GreatSchools.org and Stockton Unified School District partner to equitably serve more than 40,000 students amid pandemic

The new partnership will deliver grade-based newsletters to parents, helping build community and support student success in kindergarten through high school graduation.

OAKLAND, CA (August 13, 2020) — GreatSchools.org, a national nonprofit providing parents with information to guide their children to great futures, and Stockton Unified School District announced today their new collaboration to help parents support their child’s learning by delivering weekly grade-based newsletters in English and in Spanish. This resource aims to extend the impact of the classroom, grow the connection between school and home, and help parents support their child’s academic, social, and emotional learning and well-being for the 2020-2021 school year.
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GreatSchools.org launches ratings update California and Michigan

New ratings emphasize educational equity and elevate student academic progress, or “growth,” as a measure of school quality

OAKLAND, CA (August 13, 2020) — GreatSchools.org, the leading provider of school information, is launching an updated Equity Rating and Summary Rating for most K-12 schools in California and Michigan. The new methodology, piloted first in Michigan and California with a national launch planned for the fall, will give parents, advocacy organizations, and other community stakeholders a more nuanced view of school quality that prioritizes equitable outcomes. The new Equity Rating will now include student growth and college readiness metrics in addition to proficiency rates. The Summary Rating will also shift to emphasize student growth relative to standardized test scores.
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GreatSchools.org launches new summer learning resources

New grade-based summer learning program to help families curb summer slide during COVID-19

OAKLAND, CA (July 1, 2020) — GreatSchools.org announced new, free grade-based summer learning calendars, materials, and activities to help families support learning at home during the summer months amid the coronavirus crisis. The four week program is designed to help children from kindergarten through fifth grade practice important skills, build on what they learned this past year, and get ready for the next school year.
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New information helps parents understand school district plans for remote and summer learning

GreatSchools.org partners with the Center on Reinventing Public Education to shine the light on what district do — and do not — provide during school closures

OAKLAND, CA (June 15, 2020) — GreatSchools.org, in partnership with the Center on Reinventing Public Education (CRPE), launched a new COVID-19 Response section on GreatSchools.org. Parents, advocacy organizations, and education leaders can now find information about how many school districts plan for and deliver distance learning and assess and address learning loss. The information includes how teachers provide instruction, whether or not there are real-time interactions with other students, grading policies, and resources the district does — or doesn’t — provide to address the digital divide. Also included is new information about summer learning opportunities.
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