Since the release in November of the School District of Janesvilles 2023-24 state report card, district administration, the school board and principals have fielded a lot of community questions about things that might be done better.
Now, less than a month out from the April 1 school board election, as six candidates lend further voice to whats going well and what they believe isnt were compelled to point out two areas in which the school district appears to be doing well, or at least moving in the right direction. We hope whoever is elected in April will keep these going strong.
First, the arts.
District-wide on its 2023-24 state report card, Janesville beat the state average in the percentage of its students enrolled in all four types of art classes listed on state report cards art & design, dance, music and theater based on data from the 2022-23 school year.
On the individual building level, meanwhile, Craig High School saw higher student enrollment than the state average in two of the four types of arts classes measured by the state report cards art & design and music.
Parker High School, home of Parker Arts Academy, an arts-focused charter school that opened in 2021, meanwhile beat the state average for student participation in three of the four types of art classes dance, music and theater and came in just shy of the state average in student participation in art & design courses.
Parker Arts Academys curriculum focuses include voice, technical theatre, musical theatre, acting, dance, and music theory. Students in grades 9-12 must apply to attend and spend about half of their time on core academics, and the rest of their time on arts-related instruction. They put on several theater productions each year.
Strong arts programs, of course, offer far more than technical arts instruction. Theyre also uniquely inclusive. Music, theater, dance and art & design draw students who dont always fit into prescribed social boxes, including LGBTQ+ students. That they have a space to genuinely and safely express themselves is critical to their development into successful adults, especially given recent backlash against DEI initiatives.
Next, school-to-work readiness.
Through coursework and partnerships with local businesses and organizations, Janesville high school students have access to a wide array of apprenticeships, internships, career and technical education, and programs like the Janesville Business Hub that introduces them to business careers, and Craftsman with Character, that provides technical learning and mentoring in the skilled trades.
Parker High School, on its 2023-24 school report card, exceeded the state average in the number of students earning industry-recognized credentials (IRCs) which are certifications, licenses, or other credentials validated by employers. And growth is key Parker had 130 students who earned at least one IRC in the 2022-23 school year, up from 39 in the 2021-22 school year, according to the 2023-24 school report card.
On its 2023-24 school report card, Parker still lagged behind the state average in its number of students participating in work-based learning programs but saw marked improvement, up from 4 participating students in the 2021-22 school year to 23 in 2022-23.
Craig High School, meanwhile, continues to lag behind the state average in both work-based learning programs and industry-recognized credentials. However, it has seen a recent strong uptick in its number of students participating in work-based learning programs, up from 17 in the 2021-22 school year to 45 in 2022-23, growth that deserves a nod of recognition.
The School District of Janesville still has work to do judging from its mixed 2023-24 state report card, with issues ranging from academic achievement to truancy. But in the arts the school district is strong, and in school-to-work programs, its going solidly in the right direction. Thats worth pointing out.