Nearly half of students in the Luxemburg-Casco School District are meeting advanced standards in mathematics, far outpacing the state average, according to the latest report cards from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI).

At Luxemburg-Casco’s middle and intermediate schools, 47.8 percent of students tested at the “Advanced” level in math, compared with a statewide average of 19.9 percent. District leaders attribute the success to an acceleration model that has been in place for more than a decade.

The model began after a committee of teachers reviewed research on best practices for gifted instruction. Instead of offering enrichment alone, the district chose to accelerate qualifying students into higher-grade math coursework earlier in their academic careers.

Using baseline assessments in kindergarten, educators identify students who demonstrate high proficiency. Each year, six to 10 first graders are advanced one grade level in math, learning two grade levels of material simultaneously. By middle school, approximately 50 students complete three years of math curriculum in two years, with some earning up to two high school math credits before entering ninth grade.

Director of Learning Services Mike Snowberry said “it pushes students out of and beyond their comfort zones while maintaining high expectations for growth”.

“83 percent of students achieved at least one year of growth in math this year” Snowberry added. Administrators say consistent curriculum alignment and a shared daily math block across grades have also contributed to the district’s sustained success.