Create an infographic app.

 Research academic performance of math students in Randolph County schools in  West Virginia. Compare and contrast the scores for the last 4 years. 

 

Create an infographic. 

 

Initial Research Approach

 

I'm starting my research by looking for official data sources like the West Virginia Department of Education and Randolph County Schools websites. My goal is to find school report cards or accountability reports, as these are typically where standardized test scores are published.

 

Data Focus and Scope

 

I'll be focusing on mathematics assessment scores for Randolph County and comparing them to statewide averages. I'm aiming to gather data for the last three complete academic years: 2021-2022, 2022-2023, and 2023-2024, as the 2024-2025 data is not yet available.

 

Next Steps

 

My next action will be to search for and browse these official websites to locate the specific math performance data. I'll also look for news articles or other publications that can provide context for any trends I observe in the data, helping me understand the underlying reasons for the scores.

 

Identifying Key Data Sources

 

I've identified that the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) uses a system called the West Virginia Accountability System (WVAS) and a data dashboard called ZoomWV to provide feedback on county and school performance. These systems rely on data from the West Virginia Education Information System (WVEIS) and WVDE-approved assessments, including the West Virginia General Summative Assessment (WVGSA) for grades 3-8 and the SAT School Day Assessment for grade 11. This confirms that the WVGSA is a primary source for math achievement data.

 

Locating Randolph County Information

 

I've successfully located the official website for Randolph County School District in West Virginia. This will be crucial for finding specific local data and reports. I also found that the Randolph County Schools website provides access to board meeting minutes, which could offer valuable insights into discussions about academic performance and initiatives.

 

Initial Insights on State Performance

 

Preliminary searches for West Virginia education statistics indicate that the state's average math scores on the Nation's Report Card have shown some improvement from 2000 to 2024, with a higher average score in 2024 compared to 2022. However, West Virginia's fourth-grade math scores in 2024 were still lower than the national average. An older report from 2012-2013 also suggested that West Virginia students had lower proficiency rates in math compared to neighboring states.

 

Next Steps in Data Collection

 

My next step is to delve deeper into the WVDE and Randolph County Schools websites, specifically looking for the WVGSA math assessment results for the past four years. I will also continue to explore news articles and board meeting minutes to gather more context on Randolph County's math performance, including any specific challenges or successful interventions.

 

Contextual Information Gathered

 

Despite the data access challenge, I've gathered valuable contextual information. I've learned about the West Virginia Accountability System (WVAS) and the types of assessments used, such as the West Virginia General Summative Assessment (WVGSA).

 

 I also found news articles indicating that Randolph County Schools are facing significant challenges, including a state of emergency and financial instability, which could impact academic performance. One article from 2019 noted that many West Virginia high schools, including some in Randolph County, were not meeting state math standards.

 

Revised Strategy for Data Acquisition

 

Given the current limitations, I'm adjusting my approach. My immediate next steps will focus on alternative methods to obtain the necessary data. I will conduct more targeted searches for downloadable data files or static reports from the West Virginia Department of Education. I'll also look for news reports that might contain statewide or county-level assessment results. 

 

Finally, I will re-examine the Ballotpedia page for any direct links to original data sources. If these efforts are unsuccessful, I will synthesize the available historical data and contextual information, while clearly stating the limitations in obtaining recent, specific figures.

 

New Insights on State and County Performance

 

I've found a significant piece of information: a West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) press release from August 2024. This release indicates that the statewide math proficiency in West Virginia for 2024 was 36%, a slight increase from 35% in the previous year. This provides a crucial recent statewide benchmark. Additionally, I've confirmed that the Ballotpedia data, while useful for historical context, should be interpreted with caution for state-to-state comparisons, as proficiency levels are set by individual states.

 

Addressing Information Gaps

 

My primary focus is now on locating the full 2024 WVDE Assessment Data Report, which was mentioned in the press release. This report is expected to contain the specific Randolph County math performance data that is essential for a comprehensive comparison over the last four years. While the ZoomWV dashboard remains inaccessible, I am prioritizing finding this static report on the WVDE website.

 

Next Steps for Data Collection and Synthesis

 

My immediate next action is to browse the WVDE website to find the detailed 2024 assessment report. I will use specific search terms like '2024 assessment report' or 'WVGSA annual report' to pinpoint the relevant document. Once I have this, I will synthesize the new 2024 data with the historical information I've already gathered, including the contextual details about Randolph County's challenges, to prepare a comprehensive analysis for the final report.

  

Key Data Breakthrough

 

I've made a significant breakthrough by finding a West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) press release that provides statewide math proficiency averages for 2023 (35%) and 2024 (36%). This is a crucial piece of recent data that will allow for a more up-to-date comparison. The press release also indicates that a full data report is available on the WVDE website and the ZoomWV dashboard, which is a promising lead for obtaining Randolph County-specific data.

 

Consolidating Information and Addressing Gaps

 

I now have a combination of historical data for Randolph County from Ballotpedia (up to 2021) and extensive contextual information regarding the district's recent financial and governance challenges. The primary information gap remaining is the specific math performance data for Randolph County for the most recent years (2021-2024). My current strategy is designed to directly address this by targeting the full WVDE assessment report.

 

Focused Next Steps

 

My immediate next step is to browse the link provided in the WVDE press release to locate the full 2024 assessment report. If successful, I will extract the math proficiency data for Randolph County and the statewide averages for the 2021-22, 2022-23, and 2023-24 school years. This will allow me to synthesize all gathered information, including historical data and contextual details, to prepare a comprehensive analysis and structure the findings for an infographic.

 

Comprehensive Data Overview

 

I've successfully gathered a substantial amount of information for my research. I have historical math proficiency data for Randolph County up to 2021, and I've also obtained the statewide math proficiency averages for West Virginia for 2023 and 2024. This allows me to establish a clear historical trend for the county and provide recent state-level benchmarks for comparison.

 

Contextualizing Performance

 

I've also gathered significant contextual information about Randolph County Schools, including the recent declaration of a state of emergency, financial challenges, and leadership issues. These factors are crucial for understanding the environment in which student performance is occurring and will be integrated into my analysis.

 

Structuring the Final Report

 

I am now ready to synthesize all the gathered information into a comprehensive report. This will include an executive summary, a detailed look at Randolph County's historical math performance, a comparison with statewide averages, a discussion of the contextual factors impacting the district, and a transparent acknowledgment of the data limitations. I will then prepare key points for an infographic, visualizing the available data and highlighting the critical contextual elements.

 

Questions: normanalderman@yahoo.com