The turnaround was all the more remarkable because the neighboring Winlock School District had the lowest scores of all school districts in the area this year, despite nearly identical levels of teaching experience and student demographic background.

Toledo educators say they have no silver bullet or magic elixir that explains the improvement. They credit a combination of using test score data and sheer determination, which is reflected in Superintendent Chris Rust’s assertion that scores still are not high enough.

“We’re only getting half the kids (passing), so we’re not there yet,” Rust said.

Toledo Elementary School Principal Angela Bacon said she is grateful to be above the state’s average, but the district had set a goal of 80% passing in both subjects.

“We were disappointed by the results, and we are digging into the data to see why,” Bacon said.

Bacon said there’s no “magic curriculum” to improve low test scores. The district achieved its growth by making data-driven decisions and “staying the course.” Using state testing scores, teachers focus on lessons or material that students struggle with and helping students who needed specific attention.

The district will continue to build on systems it already has to reach its goal, Bacon said, instead of starting with something new.

“No decision was made without consulting the data, because prior to that it was more like hunches, ‘I think this might work,’ ” Bacon said. “We took a systems approach and said it’s not your kid, they’re our kids, and what are we going to do to help them?”

To start, the district brought in curriculum coaches and invested in teacher training, said Heather Ogden, Toledo Middle School principal.

“We had a lot of coaches and supports put into place, as well as collaboration, and started looking at data,” Ogden said.

In the elementary school, Bacon said they also worked to make sure each child got help without stigma. School staff, for example, adopted “Walk to Read,” where all students switch classes at the same time, some to read in a different classroom, others to get specialized help.

“During Walk to Read, everybody gets up and moves around, so there’s no stigma around leaving to get help,” Bacon said. “We support kids at every level, so every kid gets exactly what they need.”

At Toldeo High School, there’s a dedicated advising period to check on grades, said Principal Martin Huffman. During that period, teachers also run a math and ELA lab to give students extra help, and there’s a schoolwide writing program.

Recently, the high school students wrote fables, Huffman said, and then went into second grade classrooms and read them aloud. That kind of connection between schools is important, Bacon said, and not necessarily available in all schools.

“It’s one of those things we take for granted, but I don’t think it’s done everywhere. It’s unique,” Bacon said. “It gives (the elementary school students) something to aspire to, which is so important.”

“We started with the foundation of curriculum, but you’re not going to get what you hope to get until you look at the whole child,” Bacon said.

Bacon said such a change also couldn’t be achieved by working alone. The district learns from and collaborates with surrounding districts, Bacon said.

“It’s all about partnerships,” Bacon said. “We’re not a wealthy community, but if a kid needs something, they get it.”

Toledo superintendent Rust said his next focus is how to best help struggling students. Specifically, students in special education and students below the poverty line tend to lag behind their peers, something Rust said is common across the state.

“One of the things the data is telling us, throughout the state, is that equity is the next frontier,” Rust said.

It’s also important, Rust cautioned, to remember that standardized tests are not the only valid measure of district success. He said Toledo, while improving on its testing scores, has plenty of room for improvement in many areas.

“If you look at districts through different lenses you’ll see them outperform us,” Rust said. “Everyone is focusing on a different part of the child, but you will find stellar work going on in every district.”

As for next year’s tests, Bacon said “the bar is high, and we’re just going to keep working for it.”