An ad hoc classroom at Sherman Elementary.

Wondering how your alma mater is doing, or the school your kids attend?  The Preliminary School Report Cards from the Department of Public Instruction have been released.  The reports focus on priority areas such as reading achievement, math and science growth, and graduation rates, giving scores from 0 to 100.  The DPI is using new report cards this year that are meant to give a more comprehensive look at the effectiveness of schools.  More than 85 percent of schools in Wisconsin meet or exceed expectations. Thankfully, schools in the Eau Claire area are doing a-okay, most of them falling in either the Exceeds Expectations category or Meets Expectations.  Five of the thirteen elementary schools in Eau Claire were in the Exceeds Expectations category: Manz Elementary, Davey Elementary, Montessori Charter School, Northwoods Elementary, and Robbins Elementary, having scores ranging from 73.6 to 75.9.  One of the middle schools, South Middle School, and one of the high schools, Memorial High School, were also exceeding expectations, receiving 74.9 and 76.5, respectively.  The rest of the schools in the city of Eau Claire were in the Meets Expectations category aside from Lakeshore Elementary, falling just below at 58.3. Other local schools in surrounding areas have been doing a stellar job, too.  Altoona High School, Jim Falls Elementary in Chippewa Falls, and Knapp Elementary in Menomonie all have been exceeding expectations.