ANDERSON, Ind. — For the first time in Indiana educational history, it’s not just the students who are trying to make an “A” — it’s the schools as well.

This year, the Indiana Department of Education assigned letter scores to each school’s performance, generating a scale of A through F similar to the traditional grading system with which so many students and parents are familiar. Under Indiana Public Law 221, a comprehensive accountability system for public education in grades K-12, scores are based on student scores in the state’s ISTEP math and English testing program. Figures for 2011 were released Monday.

Department of Education spokesman Alex Damron said the DOE’s hope was that letter grades would make casual evaluation of a school easier.

“We just wanted to come up with a system that people can easily understand,” he said. “If you look at our old grading system, there probably wouldn’t be too many people who could place the ranks in order. But everybody knows what order A-B-C-D-F goes in. We think it will increase awareness and community engagement in the schools.”

The results were a mixed bag for Madison County school districts overall. Alexandria had the most improvement, jumping from the equivalent of a “D” grade last year to a “B” this year. Frankton-Lapel and South Madison schools also earned B’s.

Alexandria Superintendent Alice Johnson said the improvement in her school district could be attributed to several factors, but overall said the goal was achieved simply by “doing what’s right.”

“Our program is this,” she said. “Do what’s right and everything will fall into place. We concentrate not only on school goals but on the critical execution of those goals.”

Elwood Community Schools did not fare as well. Elwood received a grade of “F” for the second straight year, placing the school district on academic probation with the state. Two more years of “F” grades would mean state intervention.

Elwood Superintendent Greg Nelson said he was not shocked to learn about Elwood’s low ranking, although he did not understand the particulars of the grading system. “I knew our schools were not performing up to par,” he said. “I can’t say I was terribly surprised to see it ... at the same time I didn’t expect to be labeled as a ‘failing’ school district.”

Upon learning of the failing grade, Nelson posted a letter to Elwood parents and community members explaining his take on the matter.

“Under the state evaluation plan both Elwood Elementary School and Elwood Community High School received a letter grade of C while Elwood Community Middle School received a letter grade of D. The surprising fact is ... though none of our schools received a failing grade individually, the state rates us as a failing school corporation.”

Regardless, Nelson said, it is clear that Elwood schools are in need of improvement and are already taking steps to improve test scores. Elwood will soon begin to implement the same “8 Step Program” that Anderson schools have begun. Although the school corporation was unable to secure state funding for the program, Nelson and school board members have opted to begin the new program without outside financial backing.

“I just want our parents to know that we’ve been working to get things turned around, even before these scores came out,” Nelson said.

Elwood need not look far for a model. Alexandria schools have spent the last several years installing a clinical model of teaching, with new tools, software and technology to help students learn more efficiently.

However, Johnson believed that simple physical tools only scratched the surface of Alexandria’s improvement. Accountability and trust, she said, have been crucial in Alexandria’s initiatives to improve.

“We (have) a very open window of accountability. Everyone in the school knows each teacher’s mini-assessment results and help each other by freely sharing their strengths and weaknesses. With a high-trust culture it’s easy to do this,” she said.

Meanwhile, Anderson Community Schools earned a grade of “D” for the sixth consecutive year, just avoiding probationary status.

However, Damron said, just because ACS and other schools avoid probation does not mean that the state is not paying attention. Damron believes it is crucial to not pay attention merely to a school’s current year score, but to also look at the school’s history from a broader perspective.

“If your school is a “D” school you should be seriously looking at ways to improve,” he said. “You don’t want to be skating by on “D” scores for years and years. If I was a parent of a child in those schools, I would think about calling my principals and school board members and seeing how I can help things to get better.”

Contact Michael D. Doyle: 640-4805, michael.doyle@heraldbulletin.com