PINEDALE – Sublette County’s high schools set the bar high for excellence in Wyoming.

Each year, schools are assessed according to state and federal accountability performance standards. Statewide standards are determined by the 2013 Wyoming Accountability in Education Act (WAEA) while federal standards are based on the 2015 Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

All three high schools in the county – Big Piney High School, Pinedale High School and Skyline Academy – received the WAEA’s top rating of exceeding expectations on accountability reports for the 2022-2023 academic year.

The Roundup covered Big Piney High School’s accomplishments, including a 100-percent graduation rate, in the Oct. 12 issue. This article focuses on Sublette County School District No. 1 (SCSD1).

SCSD1 Superintendent Shannon Harris highlighted the district’s achievements at the Oct. 12 board of trustees meeting.

“This is the first time under the WAEA that all schools (in SCSD1) are either meeting or exceeding expectations,” Harris added. “Very few districts can say that. To meet or exceed expectations is pretty phenomenal. Teachers and administrators in our district are working hard and looking at the data to ask the right questions on how to bridge the gaps.”

Skyline Academy

Skyline Academy made significant growth on the WAEA’s accountability report from partially meeting expectations during the 2021-2022 school year to exceeding expectations in 2022-2023.

“This is reason to celebrate,” said Skyline Academy Principal Kellie Jo Williams to SCSD1 trustees in September. “We are moving in the right direction.”

Skyline Academy is classified as an alternative high school under the WAEA. Alternative schools can receive four ratings through the WAEA – not meeting expectations, partially meeting expectations, meeting expectations or exceeding expectations.

The ratings are based on eight indicators that differ slightly from those used to rank non-alternative high schools. Alternative high schools are graded on achievement, growth, the number of students earning a diploma or graduation equivalency certification, credits earned by students, college and career readiness and school climate and engagement.

Williams focused in particular on achievement and growth. Skyline Academy received an achievement score of 35 from the WAEA, Williams announced. To earn an overall rating of exceeding expectations, schools must score between 30 and 50 in achievement.

Achievement is determined by student performances on the Wyoming Test of Proficiency and Progress (WY-TOPP), Williams explained.

Growth tracks the improvement in WY-TOPP scores and 11th-grade ACT scores from the previous academic year.

Skyline Academy posted a WAEA growth score of 65. Growth scores of more than 50 are required for a school to receive exceeding expectations on its accountability report.

Williams noted a marked uptrend in attendance at Skyline during the 2022-2023 academic year, as students take more “ownership and accountability” over their education. Students take charge by organizing and lead their own parent-teacher conferences, for example, Williams added.

Skyline emphasizes college and career readiness through professional internships, visits to colleges and teaching of employable skills in the classroom, Williams said.

The school is transitioning to “responsibility-centered discipline” with a focus on “in-school solutions” that keep students on campus rather than relying on out-of-school suspensions, Williams continued.

Students are also involved in enrichment classes, including a new course in aviation, Williams said.

Williams thanked Skyline’s staff and students for their roles in the school’s accomplishments.

“The entire staff at Skyline work tirelessly to ensure that students’ needs are met on an individual basis,” Williams said. “The students put in effort not only on their course work, but also utilized their time to work on areas needed for personal growth through our interventions programs. Together, with students and staff working on targeted goals, the student achievement was recognized.”

Williams also gave a shoutout to parents and guardians for encouraging their students to perform well.

Pinedale High School

Pinedale High School (PHS) experienced growth over the past two years on its WAEA accountability reports, from meeting expectations in 2021-2022 to exceeding expectations in 2022-2023.

Non-alternative high schools are also ranked by the WAEA from not meeting expectations to exceeding expectations. The WAEA uses seven indicators to track high schools – achievement, growth, equity, English language learner progress, graduation rates, post-secondary readiness and ninth-grade credits.

PHS is the largest high school in terms of enrollment in Wyoming to receive exceeding expectations, said Principal Brian Brisko to trustees on Oct. 12. Only 10 high schools in the state earned a rating of exceeding expectations, Superintendent Harris added.

Brisko also acknowledged Skyline Academy and Big Piney High School for achieving an exceeding expectations rating.

“Props to Sublette County – this is pretty amazing,” Brisko said.

Brisko credited SCSD1’s literacy intervention program, led by literacy teacher Faith Howard, for playing a role in PHS’s success. He also highlighted career and technical education programs for boosting the school’s post-secondary readiness.

PHS posted a graduation rate of 97.3 percent in 2022-2023, Brisko noted. The school’s graduation rate continued to grow as the statewide average declined, he told trustees.

“This is a tribute to the processes we have in place district wide, from the elementary school to the high school, along with the great relationship we have with Skyline,” Brisko added.

Brisko thanked PHS registrar Rena Rogers for a “phenomenal” effort in tracking each student who first sets foot in the school as a freshman through graduation.

Brisko pointed out a significant upturn in attendance post-COVID, reaching 95.22 percent in 2022-2023. PHS experienced “gradual growth” in math scores on WY-TOPP tests due to the introduction of new math curriculum, Brisko added, with “significant gains” in ninth- and tenth-grade math. Science and English language scores also improved in 2022-2023.

Brisko drew a connection between high levels of participation by PHS students in sports and activities to the school’s high performance.

“Kids in activities perform better at school, are more engaged and earn higher ACT scores,” Brisko said.

Brisko expressed gratitude to the PHS faculty and students.

“Our teachers do an excellent job putting the work in day after day,” he said. “We have an amazing student body – our kids are phenomenal.”