Achieving Equity and Keeping Our Commitments

Washington Township Community Update, Fall 2022

A Note From Dr. Woodson, Your Proud Superintendent

​​Your Washington Township Schools not only provide the premier learning experience for our nearly 11,000 students, but they also serve as a great source of pride for the entire community.

Our outstanding staff and state-of-the-art facilities serve our students and families in many ways. This contributes to the growth of our community as a sought-after residential and employment location in the Indianapolis area.

Thanks to the continued support of our residents, alumni, and business partners, we are making the necessary staffing and environmental changes needed to provide equitable learning opportunities for ALL of our students. We proudly offer this update to our community and look forward to continuing on our path of excellence!

Who We Are
We are proud to serve a dynamic community with broad diversity in neighborhoods, cultures, religions, ethnic groups, races, and socioeconomic levels. This diversity is recognized and appreciated through customized service to our nearly 11,000 students in grades PK-12. Find out more about our student services offerings here.

The Statistics Below Demonstrate Our Diverse Student Population

• 41% Black
• 64% White
• 38% Hispanic
• 14% Multi-Racial
• 3.69% Asian
• 1,673 English Learners
• 79 Native Languages
• 275 Homeless
• 288 Refugee Students
• 2,012 Students in Special Education
• 1,486 Students Identified As High Ability

Approximate Staff Breakdown

• 72% Academic Support
• 28% Operational Support

District Mission and Vision

The Metropolitan School District of Washington Township provides quality education in award-winning schools built on a foundation of outstanding educators, administrators, school board members, and supportive parents.

Mission
Our mission is to develop lifelong learners and globally-minded citizens by fostering the academic, creative, and social skills needed to achieve excellence in a multicultural environment.

Vision
Our vision is to create equitable, affirming, and responsive learning environments for all students to thrive.

Washington Township Schools                                                     

2022 Points of Pride                                                     

Washington Township Schools continue to be a nationally prominent public school institution providing almost 70 years of academic excellence. Our staff, partners, and the entire community are invested in meeting the diverse needs of our students, and we proudly celebrate their growth and accomplishments! We intentionally address student needs through our District Strategic Plan, school improvement plans, and equity work.

Please review our 2022 Points of Pride as listed below.

• 20221 graduation rate is 91.7 percent, up from 90.5 percent in 2020, the highest since 2009. For comparison, the state graduation rate is 86.7 percent.
• 100 percent of Washington Township Elementary Schools Met their NWEA math proficiency school improvement goals for black, white, and Hispanic students while reading proficiency goals were met according to the following:
  • Six of eight elementary schools met reading proficiency goals for black and Hispanic students
  • Eight of eight elementary schools met reading proficiency goals for white students
• 100 percent of demographic subgroups showed improvement on ILEARN math from one year ago.
• Compared to 10 similar, large urban public school districts, Washington Township students ranked first or second in all academic areas on ILEARN state assessments.
• 35 2022 North Central Graduates Earned the Certificate of Multilingual Proficiency
• 5,006 dual credits earned by Washington Township students, saving families $803,557 in credit costs.
• The average unweighted GPA at North Central High School increased from 3.17 (2021) to 3.22 (2022).
• 11,174 scholarships earned by the North Central class of 2022 totally $48 million.
• 448 Indiana promoted industry certifications were earned by JEL students in 2022
• The district attendance rate is up in the 2021-2022 school year over the 2020-2021 school year.
• Actively implementing 16 construction projects; providing high-quality, safe learning spaces for our nearly 11,000 students, with $300 million representing 198 prime contractors with nearly $100 million in diverse supplier commitments
• The number of students of color enrolling in honors courses increased over 50 percent at all levels, elementary, middle, and high school.
• 90 student support positions were added through ESSER funds and operating referendum funds.

Why Washington Township?

The points below highlight some of the many reasons Washington Township Schools are a great choice for K-12 education:

• Rich academic programming and outstanding instructors
• Dedicated to Achieving Equitable Outcomes
• Outperforming state and national graduation rates
• Community partnerships to benefit students and families
• Exceptional Learning Environments

Join other students, families, staff, alumni, and community members who have shared why they love Washington Township Schools on social media using the Hashtag #WhyWT.

Washington Township is a great place to learn AND WORK. Find employment opportunities here.

Teaching and Learning in a Safe and Secure Environment

While school safety has always been a priority in Washington Township Schools, the need to review district and building-level policies and practices was elevated upon returning to school full-time following the pandemic. During the 2021-2022 school year, the Township solicited an outside entity to conduct an extensive safety and security audit. In December, the School Board approved a contract with Safe Havens International. The auditing process began in January when leadership engaged in the discovery phase of the audit. District and building-level processes, policies, and guidelines were submitted to Safe Havens for examination. As we moved into March, Safe Havens staff conducted one week of onsite audits in all Washington Township school buildings. During this time auditors looked at arrival and dismissal procedures, passing periods, and a myriad of other building-level situations. In April, Michael Dorn, national school safety and security expert conducted staff interviews examining processes for environmental and social-emotional safety efforts. Safe Havens’ findings are identifying current best practices in the Township’s safety and security efforts and are providing considerations for opportunities to improve.

From the Washington Township Board of Education

“Thanks to the continued support of the Washington Township community, we have improved our facilities to better serve our nearly 11,000 students. Construction projects in our public schools have updated learning environments and evolved teaching methods. Operational funding increases have given all students more opportunities for success by adding and retaining much-needed specialized staff, while also adding to the property values of homes in the Township. Your Washington Township Board of Education remains committed to creating the best school experience for all students, families, and the community, keeping equitable opportunity for all as a pillar of our practice. Commitments Made – Commitments Kept”

Washington Township residents will be asked to vote for two school board seats this November. We encourage you to educate yourself on the candidates before you vote for who best represents our public schools. Find out more here.

From the Washington Township Schools Foundation

WTSF Receives Generous $500,000 Donation from Local Veteran
This spring, the Washington Township Schools Foundation received a $500,000 gift from the estate of military veteran Terry Kahn to support our exceptional educators and learning environments in perpetuity. Terry understood the importance of education and we are so grateful to be able to facilitate his wishes and carry on his desire to support public education.

Learn more about this generous donation and how the funds will support Washington Township Schools here.

North Central Alumnus Helps Guide the Next Generation
North Central has over 49,000 Alumni worldwide doing incredible things, including recent graduates like 2020’s Kyra Patterson. Kyra’s appreciation for her time at North Central inspired her to return this spring to connect with AVID students to share her experience on transitioning from high school to college. Kyra currently attends Howard University and runs her own business, “A Quest Towards College,” where she serves as an educational consultant, helping students better navigate college admissions and more! Learn more about Kyra and what she’s been up to after graduation here.

Keeping Our Commitments to Update Facilities and Enhance Property Values
Capital Projects Referendum Update

• We have renovated ten (10) schools at all learning levels.
• We have built two (2) new elementary schools and are building a new middle school to replace aging facilities.
• We are building a state-of-the-art Early Learning Center to support future generations of Washington Township students.
• Thanks in part to these investments, the assessed value of property in your Washington Township School District has increased to $6.6B (or by $800M) in less than four years.
• We are creating more conducive learning environments that support our ability to teach the nearly 11,000 students enrolled in our schools.
• Each project includes energy-efficient and environmentally-sensitive designs. Natural light has been incorporated throughout.
• The projects are cost-efficient and flexible by serving multiple purposes.
• Entry points have enhanced security while still being welcoming.
• Athletic facilities are receiving significant improvements, which will support our continued commitment to a holistic approach to education through extracurricular activities.
• We have established an unprecedented commitment to supplier diversity, directing millions of dollars to firms owned by small business owners, minorities, women, veterans, and the physically challenged.

We’re Making Progress
Find out more about all capital projects here.
Learn more about the transformation of North Central High School here.

Quotes from Stakeholders
“Communities that invest time, energy and tax dollars into their public school system benefit from that investment in higher property values. Simply put, homebuyers are attracted to communities that prioritize children and education.”

Paul Scherrer, Relator
Scherrer Brothers/United Real Estate

“Outside of a stable home, one of the most important steps to elevating people from poverty and improving the public health of a community starts with the building blocks of a good education. The investment in infrastructure of our school system reaches far beyond the walls of each facility. It improves the welfare and the value for all of us who call Washington Township our home.”

Louis M. Profeta, MD
Washington Township Resident

Keeping Our Commitments to Support Students and Enhance Property Values
Operating Referendum Update

• Retain Exceptional Staff
• Increase Pay to Competitive Levels for Teachers and Support Staff
• Add Staff to Ensure Equitable Achievement
  • Academic Staff: Teachers, School Psychologists, Counselors, Attendance Clerks, Alternative Program Staff, and Academic Department Chairs

Added to provide increased support for targeted student learning.

• School Safety and Student Social-Emotional Learning Staff: School Resource Officers and Social-Emotional Learning Coaches

Added to increase student supervision and improve student-student and student-staff interaction.

• Facilities and Transportation Staff: Additional Custodians, Maintenance Office Staff, an Electrician, Additional Bus Drivers and Bus Mechanics

Added to improve efficiencies and reliability in transporting students and maintaining facilities.

• District Support Staff: Director of Equity and Inclusion and Communications Manager

Added to review practices to best engage all students and staff in a culturally responsive and inclusive manner to better engage with families and the community.

• Athletic and Co-Curricular Staff: Coaches and Athletic Supervisors

Added to provide increased student engagement in athletic opportunities and promote school pride.

Quotes from Students and Staff
“We love our Social and Emotional learning sessions because they are fun! Our teacher allows us to play while we learn and she also asks us about how we feel.”
Riley, 3rd Grade, Greenbriar,  Olivia, 5th Grade, Greenbriar

“Teaching in my newly renovated classroom has elevated my teaching practice to a whole new level. The technology has made it easier than ever to connect my learners into what I am teaching with just a few touches of a button.”
Jordan Jeran
Fourth Grade Teacher

District Strategic Plan
Elevate – The Next Level of Teaching and Learning
The following is a brief summary of the District’s philosophy behind our Strategic Plan.

EQUITABLE schools operate with a fundamental belief that every student in every classroom can and will elevate their learning to the highest potential if…

• a strong teacher and student learning partnership is cultivated with a balance of support, feedback, and productive struggle to grow student independence and self-efficacy.
• our students participate in a socially, physically, and intellectually safe learning community where their identities and voices are AFFIRMED, valued, and represented.
• there are high expectations for culturally RESPONSIVE, student-centered instruction.
• our educators model a growth mindset and commit to purposeful collaboration and professional learning.

Staying Connected
Great things are happening every day in Washington Township Schools and we encourage you to get involved! Connect with our schools and support organizations to become a proud partner of your neighbor public schools.

Follow Us on Social Media
Twitter – @MSDWT
Facebook – Washington Township Schools

#WT4Equity     #WTProud     #WhyWT

Connect with Our Organizations
Washington Township Schools Foundation
MSDWT Community Coalition
Washington Township Parent Council Network