A-F grades approved for Indiana schools after ISTEP discord

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Slightly more Indiana schools are receiving A grades under changes to the state’s rating system that gives schools and teachers a reprieve from big drops in student scores on the ISTEP standardized exam.

Ratings approved Tuesday by the State Board of Education give A grades to about 56 percent of some 2,100 public and private schools. About 54 percent of schools received an A rating last year.

The new ratings give an F grade to about 3 percent of schools.

Schools could receive higher grades than last year, but not lower ratings. That’s because of a state law change approved by legislators last week following discord around the state over ISTEP results. School officials say teachers didn’t have enough time to prepare students for the tougher exam.

2015 School Grades for Public Schools

2015 School Grades for Nonpublic Schools