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Accountability
Accountability
Wyoming’s constitution guarantees all students equal access to a quality education. Created by the Wyoming legislature in 2011, the Wyoming Accountability in Education Act (WAEA) ensures that schools, educators, and leaders are held to consistent standards aimed at improving performance. Under this law, traditional and alternative school receive annual performance ratings based on multiple indicators such as student growth, achievement, equity, English language proficiency, graduation rates, and postsecondary readiness. Alternative schools also consider school climate and student engagement. The State Board of Education develops accountability rules and makes final district and school accountability determinations. The WDE provides professional development, school improvement planning, technical assistance, and additional resources for schools that are partially or not meeting expectations.
Goals of the Wyoming Accountability in Education Act (WAEA)
Become a national education leader among states;
Ensure all students leave Wyoming schools career or college ready;
Recognize student growth and increase the rate of that growth for all students;
Recognize student achievement and minimize achievement gaps;
Improve teacher, school and district leader quality. School and district leaders shall include superintendents, principals and other district or school leaders serving in a similar capacity;
Maximize efficiency of Wyoming education; Increase credibility and support for Wyoming public schools.
WAEA Indictors
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- Achievement (weighted 35% for grades 3-8 and 20% for traditional high schools)
- Math, ELA, and Science WY-TOPP
- Growth (weighted 35% for grades 3-8 and 20% for traditional high schools)
- Grades 4-11, WY-TOPP and ACT.
- Equity (weighted 25% for grades 3-8 and 15% for traditional high schools)
- English Language Proficiency (5% all applicable schools)
- Additional Indicators for Traditional High Schools
- Extended Graduation Rate (20%)
- Post-Secondary Readiness (15%)
- Grade Nine Credits Earned (5%)
- Achievement (weighted 35% for grades 3-8 and 20% for traditional high schools)
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- Achievement (20%)
- Growth (25%)
- Graduation & Certification Rate (25%)
- 4-year cohort 5, 6, 7 year graduates
- College and Career Readiness (15%)
- Credits Earned (5%)
- Grades 9th, 10th, 11th
- School Climate (10%)
- Engagement (Overall rating docked one level if not completed)
WAEA School Performance Ratings
The above weighted indicators combine to produce the following school accountability determinations
- Exceeds Expectations
- Meets Expectations
- Partially Meets Expectations
- Below Expectations
- Exceeds Alternative School Expectations
- Meets Alternative School Expectations
- Partially Meets Alternative School Expectations
- Below Alternative School Expectations
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- Exceeds Expectations
- Meets Expectations
- Partially Meets Expectations
- Below Expectations
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- Exceeds Alternative School Expectations
- Meets Alternative School Expectations
- Partially Meets Alternative School Expectations
- Below Alternative School Expectations
Current WAEA Status of Wyoming Schools
As of the 2023-24 school year, Wyoming has 338 schools, with performance distributed as follows:
- 45 schools categorized as Exceeding Expectations (13.31%).
- 130 schools categorized as Meeting Expectations (38.46%).
- 90 schools categorized as Partially Meeting Expectations (26.63%).
- 57 schools categorized as Not Meeting Expectations (16.86%).
- 22 schools accredited with support
- 16 small schools (4.73%) under additional review due to unique size considerations
Statewide System of Support is offered to Assist Schools in Improvement Efforts
Schools in the Partially Meeting and Not Meeting categories receive tailored State System of Support to address specific challenges and promote sustainable growth. Per statute the Statewide System of Support is to be designed to increase the ability of schools and school districts to improve achievement and growth indicator performance and expand the ability for schools and school districts within the state to continuously improve. The system shall clearly identify and prescribe the actions for each level of support, including comprehensive and targeted support and intervention.
W.S. 21-2-204(h)
Learn more about the Statewide System of Support
Wyoming Graduation Rates
Per requirements for federal reporting, graduation rates are calculated based on 4 year on-time graduation cohorts. This provides data on the percentage of a group of students who graduate within 4 years of starting high school as a freshman.
The graduation rate calculation for the Wyoming Accountability in Education Act (WAEA) recognizes some students may need additional time to complete his/her high school education by “crediting” schools for efforts to help students graduate even if it takes 5 or 6 years. These are referred to as extended graduation rates.
It is to be noted that current federal and state law does not permit students with the most severe cognitive disabiliities, who are on a path to receive a “Certificate of Completion” for meeting his/her Individual Learning Program (IEP) goals, to be counted toward a district’s or school’s graduation rates.
For detailed data on graduation and completion rates in Wyoming visit the WDE Graduation Rates webpage.
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4 Year on Time – 81.6%
5 Year Extended
6 Year Extended
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4 Year on Time – 81.4%
5 Year Extended – 82.6%
6 Year Extended
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4 Year on Time – 81.8%
5 Year Extended – 83.3%
6 Year Extended – 83.6%
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4 Year on Time – 82.4%
5 Year Extended – 83.9%
6 Year Extended – 84.3%
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4 Year on Time – 82.3%
5 Year Extended – 83.7%
6 Year Extended – 84.2%
Annual WAEA reports
The Wyoming State Board of Education annually reports to the Joint Education Interim Committee on WAEA results per W.S. 21-2-204(k).
Find copies of the annual reports below.
Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
