In a preview of his annual “state of the schools” address, Cincinnati Public Schools Superintendent Steven Adamowski told The Cincinnati Enquirer “we're on our way back.”

        He will address the achievements of the 2000-01 school year and lay the groundwork for the year ahead in an address today at Xavier University's Cintas Center.

Adamowski

        In a time of national trauma following the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11 and lingering turmoil in the city of Cincinnati following April's riots, Mr. Adamowski said the school district is a source of optimism.

        “I'd like to be able to convey that something's working in our city and our schools,” he said.

        Mr. Adamowski said he plans to highlight numerous achievements of the district in the past year, including:

        • The addition of several programs to the district, such as the transformed Robert A. Taft Information Technology High School and the new Virtual High School.

        • The district's improvement in 20 of 24 state standards, based on students' performance on proficiency tests.

        • Success with early literacy programs, demonstrated by students' passing rates on proficiency tests in second and third grades.

        • An improving graduation rate, from 86.4 percent in the 1999-2000 school year to 91.2 percent in 2000-01.

        • Consistent or better attendance in all grades, including a jump in high school attendance from 81.2 percent in 1999-2000 to 84.7 percent in 2000-01.

        • Consistent or falling dropout rates.

        • Meeting increased state standards on the school district's state report card. Achievement of nine standards, which are based on student success on proficiency tests, graduation rates and attendance, would pull the district out of the state's lowest ranking — academic emergency. The district anticipates achieving at least eight.

        Mr. Adamowski said he will point out that the district still has more to accomplish.

        “We're not perfect,” he said.

        “We have lots of problems to confront, but I don't think anyone can look at our data and deny that we have made significant progress.”

        One area to be improved over the next year, he said, will be strengthening the district's partnerships with parents, community members and businesses.

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