CPS' Ohio Department of Education and Workforce 2023-24 Report Card Signals Growth

Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) today received its School Year 2023- 24 Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (DEW) Report Card, improving to earn a 2.5 star Overall rating. The overall data demonstrates continued growth and recovery with positive indicators as more than half of all tested areas demonstrated growth, and many schools showed success across the DEW Report Card component categories which include: Achievement, Progress, Gap Closing, Early Literacy and Graduation Rate. Results reveal growth in 13 of 20 tested areas with seven tested areas showing significant growth, including third grade reading and Algebra 1, and more than half of all tested CPS elementary schools earning an Overall rating of three stars or higher. 

The District surpassed annual targets for the Board’s approved Goals and Guardrails to improve student performance, reducing the gap in reading proficiency between sixth grade Black, Hispanic and Multi-Racial students and sixth grade white students, and improving Algebra 1 proficiency. The District surpassed the Board’s 2026 target for third grade reading, improving nearly ten percentage points to 57%.

"Our District’s performance on the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce Report Card reflects significant progress in key accountability areas. I’m encouraged by the notable improvement in several tested areas and Early Literacy,” CPS Interim Superintendent Shauna Murphy said. “These achievements are encouraging, and demonstrate that our focused efforts are yielding results. While we are proud of our gains, we remain committed to our goals, and new focus areas this school year to improve student performance.” 

In the 2023-24 school year, CPS developed and piloted a uniform Multi-tiered System of Supports (MTSS), aligned to the Strategic Plan, to address students’ needs academically, socially and emotionally. The pilot provides a targeted, equitable focus on student data for intervention and enrichment at each school. Eight out of 10 piloted elementary schools increased or maintained their Overall rating, with more than 50% earning three stars or higher. This uniform framework will be implemented across all CPS schools in spring 2025.

“We are encouraged by improvements in Early Literacy, a critical foundation for long-term success and improvement in our Overall rating,” Eve Bolton, CPS Board of Education President said. “The state report card is one measure of our progress. There is more work to be done, but these results are a step forward in our efforts, and the Board is committed to ensuring high-quality learning and equitable opportunities for every student.”

In addition to MTSS, CPS implemented several key strategies to improve student outcomes, including high quality core curriculum and i-Ready MyPath personalized learning and enrichment to provide real-time data to intentionally assist students, teachers and administrators throughout the school year, allowing them to adjust instruction based on student needs and test results, ensuring equitable support across the District. CPS also enhanced support for instruction with embedded professional development, and intentional feedback in each school from District coaches. For the 2024-25 school year, the District is maintaining its focus on personalized learning while implementing an instructional framework guide for teachers to reach optimal levels of instruction in core content areas for all students. CPS also invested in STEM coaches to support professional development, and is focused on structures of support, including a middle school model, as outlined in the District Performance, Redesign, Sustainability and Growth plans. 

Overall Rating:

• District earned 2.5 stars

• 56% - 24 of 43 elementary schools earned 3, 4 or 5 stars 

• 44% - 8 of 18 high schools demonstrated improvement or maintained a score of 3, 4 or 5 stars

• Ranked second among the Ohio 8

CPS’ Early Literacy rating improved to two stars for the 2023-24 school year, ranking second among the Ohio 8. The Early Literacy component measures reading improvement and proficiency for students in kindergarten through third grade by assessing proficiency in third grade reading, promotion to fourth grade and improving K-3 literacy. More than half of the schools assessed maintained or improved their rating to three, four or five stars, and the number of third-grade students performing proficient or better in reading increased by 10.6 percentage points. Aligned to the Board’s goal, the District implemented several strategies to improve Early Literacy for the 2023-24 school year. These strategies included focused support by reading specialists, expanded tier 2 intervention for students in grades 3- 6 at all schools, improving data literacy for teachers and administrators and continued Science of Reading training for all K- 3 teachers.

Early Literacy Component: 

• District improved to 2 stars

• 52% - 24 of 46 tested schools maintained or improved to earn 3, 4 or 5 stars

• 58.3% - third-grade students proficient in reading increased by 10.6 percentage points from 2022-23 school year

• Ranked second among the Ohio 8

In the Gap Closing component, CPS maintained three stars overall, with 58-percent of tested elementary schools earning three or more stars and 33-percent of high schools demonstrating improvement to maintaining a score of three stars or higher. The Gap Closing component assesses District and schools' alignment with performance expectations in English Language Arts, Mathematics and Graduation Rates. This component also gauges the effectiveness in supporting English learners to enhance language proficiency, reducing chronic absenteeism and identifying and providing services to gifted students. Improvement within the Gap Closing component represents a continuous year-over-year reduction of educational disparities. 

Gap Closing Component: 

• District earned 3 stars 

• CPS ranks second among the Ohio 8

• 58% - 25 of 43 elementary schools received 3, 4 or 5 stars

• 33% - 6 of 18 high schools maintained or improved to earn 3, 4 or 5 stars

CPS ranks first among the Ohio 8 in the Achievement component which assesses student performance on all tested areas of accountability. CPS also experienced growth in 13 of 20 tested areas, with seven tested areas demonstrating significant growth (five or more percentage points). The areas include grades 3- 7 English Language Arts, Grades 3- 5 and 7 Mathematics, Grade 5 Science, Algebra 1, Biology and American Government. CPS increased proficiency in Algebra 1 by 8.4 percentage points and 9.5 percentage points in third grade English Language Arts, both surpassing targets for the Board’s goals. The District prioritized its support for Algebra 1 and grade 8 mathematics with an increased focus on professional learning collaboratives, and ongoing coaching cycles. 

Achievement Component: 

• District earned 2 stars 

• CPS ranks first among the Ohio 8

• 65% - 13 of 20 tested areas showed growth

• 100% - 11 of 11 District Tiered Support elementary schools demonstrated improvement in the percentage of students scoring proficient or better in the majority of tested areas

• 54.5% - 6 of 11 District Tiered Support high schools demonstrated improvement in the percentage of students scoring proficient or better in the majority of tested areas

• 62.5% - 6 of 11 State Support Schools demonstrated improvement in the percentage of students scoring proficient or better in the majority of tested areas 

The Progress component assesses student growth as compared to past performance. 15 elementary schools improved by at least one star in the Progress component, with 64% of elementary schools showing improvement or maintaining a score of three, four or five stars. 

Progress Component:

• District earned 2 stars

• 36% - 15 of 42 elementary schools increased by one or more stars

• 62% - 26 of 42 elementary schools demonstrated improvement or maintained a score of 3, 4 or 5 stars

• 59% - 10 of 17 high schools demonstrated improvement or maintained a score of 3, 4 or 5 stars 

The weighted Graduation Rate for 2023 graduates increased to 83.3%, earning one star. To continue to grow its graduation rate and remain aligned with the Board’s goal, CPS is utilizing a series of strategies for improvement, including graduation counselors and attendance social workers. Preliminary data for 2024 graduates shows signs of growth in the graduation rate. 

Graduation Rate Component: 

• District earned 1 star 

• 83.3% - 1.5 percentage point increase from weighted Graduation Rate for 2023 graduates 

• 78% - 15 of 18 high schools improved, or maintained the highest ranking, in their 2022-23 four-year graduation rate

*The four-year graduation rate is weighted at 60% of the overall Graduation Rate component

• 61% - 11 of 18 high schools improved, or maintained the highest ranking, in their 2021-22 five-year cohort 

*The five-year graduation rate is weighted at 40% of the overall Graduation Rate component

The College, Career, Workforce and Military Readiness Component measures how well-prepared students are for future opportunities. While not included in this year’s rating, CPS improved 15.8 percentage points when compared to the 2022-23 school year. 

Interim Superintendent Murphy added, “As we focus on our strategic goals, the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce report card will be one resource to guide our team. As a District, we are committed to deepening our services and whole child support, and enhanced educational opportunities through our District Performance, Redesign, Sustainability and Growth plans.”

The Ohio 8 districts are Akron City, Canton City, Cincinnati Public Schools, Cleveland Municipal, Columbus City Schools District, Dayton City, Toledo City and Youngstown City. 

For more information about DEW’s report cards visit: https://reportcard.education.ohio.gov/