Covington Connection
October Edition
It’s been a tremendous start to the 2025–2026 school year! Each day, I am continually amazed by the energy and dedication our students bring to their classrooms, athletic fields, band performances, and extracurricular activities. Covington Exempted Village Schools truly stands as a shining example of what is right with public education.
A Season of Growth and Gratitude
While the leaves may be falling, October remains a time of learning and growth both inside and outside the classroom. As we near the end of the first quarter, it’s exciting to reflect on how much our students have already accomplished. From outstanding academic progress to athletic success and artistic expression, our Buccaneers continue to make us proud.
We are working hard to sustain and build upon the positive momentum we’ve experienced so far this year. This means continuing to focus on providing high-quality instruction, fostering strong relationships, and creating a supportive learning environment for every student. I want to thank our students, staff, and families for making the most of the first quarter; it’s your teamwork and commitment that drives our success.
State Report Card Shows Continued Improvement
The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (ODEW) released its 2024–2025 State Report Cards in September, and we are proud to share that Covington Exempted Village Schools continues to show strong performance and growth across multiple areas.
ODEW uses multiple data points from public schools to determine district ratings. The six categories that make up the overall rating include:
- Achievement – How students performed on state assessments.
- Progress – The amount of academic growth students make from year to year.
- Gap Closing – How well schools are meeting performance expectations for all students, especially those who may need additional support.
- Early Literacy – Reading proficiency and literacy growth in grades K–3.
- Graduation Rate – The percentage of students earning their diplomas on time.
- Readiness – This is a new component that measures students' preparedness for post-secondary success through college, career, workforce, or military options.
Achievement and progress are most heavily weighted in the overall calculation. This year, Covington Schools received four stars overall—exceeding state standards in academic achievement.
Key highlights include:
- 4 Stars Overall – Exceeds state standards in academic achievement
- 82% Performance Index
- Significantly exceeds state standards in graduation rates
- Exceeds state standards in closing educational gaps
- Five Stars in College, Career, Workforce, and Military Readiness, thanks to our robust College Credit Plus program and strong partnership with the Upper Valley Career Technology Center. Our district is one of only 64 districts in the state with a five-star rating on this component.
Building-level performance also reflected our district’s dedication to excellence:
- Covington Elementary made progress in early literacy and continues to focus on strategic interventions to improve gap-closing results.
- Covington Middle School received an overall rating of 4 stars, showing gains in academic progress and strong classroom instruction.
- Covington High School earned an impressive 4.5-star rating, exceeding state standards in multiple categories.
Graduation rates remain high, early literacy continues to grow, and chronic absenteeism has dropped—an encouraging sign that our students are more engaged and supported than ever before. These results are a direct reflection of the hard work of our teachers, staff, and students, along with the continued partnership of our families and community. We will continue using this data to refine our strategies and celebrate our success as we move forward.
As we close on the end of the first quarter, our focus remains on keeping students at the heart of all we do—celebrating their achievements, supporting their growth, and strengthening our school community. Thank you for your continued support and involvement—it truly makes a difference.
On May 15, 2024, the Covington Schools Board of Education adopted a new Strategic Plan designed to guide the district’s direction for the coming years. One of the key goals outlined in that plan is to continuously strengthen relationships with the community through organized, consistent, and positive communication.
As part of this initiative, the district recognized the importance of enhancing school–community relations and exploring dedicated staffing to support these efforts.
We are excited to announce the hiring of Jenny Alexander as Covington’s new Public Relations Coordinator. Jenny brings with her 24 years of experience in school public relations and a strong background in strategic communication planning, leadership, writing, digital content development, and crisis communication. Her expertise will be invaluable as Covington continues to build and strengthen its connection with families and the community.
Jenny spent 22 years as the Communications Specialist at Mad River Local Schools. Prior to working in school public relations, she was a television news anchor and reporter. A graduate of Wright State University, Jenny is passionate about sharing stories, building connections, and celebrating the achievements of students and educators.
Jenny will work closely with district leadership to strengthen communication efforts, increase consistency across platforms, and ensure families, staff, and community members are informed and engaged in all the wonderful things happening at Covington Exempted Village Schools.
You can reach Jenny at alexanderj@covingtonk12.org with story ideas, photos, or events worth celebrating.
Parent-teacher conferences will be held on Thursday, November 6 from 1:30-9:00 pm. Conferences will be scheduled by appointment only using our conference scheduling system (click here).
Conference scheduling will be available until 9:00 am on Wednesday, November 5. If you have trouble with the scheduler, please contact your child's teacher so that they may help you schedule a time. Conferences will be available in 15-minute blocks. If you feel additional time will be needed, please let your child's teacher know and additional time can be added to your scheduled conference.
There will be an EARLY DISMISSAL on Thursday, November 6 at 1:00 pm to allow time for conferences. There is NO SCHOOL on Friday, November 7.
The Covington-UVCC FFA Chapter will once again be providing onsite free childcare for parents during parent-teacher conferences for kids are potty-trained through grade five. No registration is required.
Fall is definitely here, and winter is close behind! As temperatures continue to drop, we want to remind families to make sure students come to school dressed for the colder weather.
Please ensure your child wears winter clothing—hats, gloves or mittens, coats, and warm layers—every day. Many of our students go outside for recess, weather permitting, so it’s important they are dressed appropriately to stay comfortable and safe.
We will continue to enjoy outdoor learning and play whenever possible, and being prepared for the conditions helps everyone stay focused and ready to learn. Thank you for your continued support in helping our students stay warm, safe, and ready to learn!
2025 CHS Homecoming Court
2025 King & Queen
Chris Deaton, a 2025 graduate of the Covington-UVCC FFA chapter, has been named a national finalist this year for the Landscape Installation Agricultural Proficiency Award. Only four FFA members nationwide are selected as national finalists in each agricultural proficiency award area.
Agricultural Proficiency Awards honor FFA members who, through supervised agricultural experiences (SAEs), have developed specialized skills that they can apply toward their future careers. Students compete in areas ranging from agricultural communications to wildlife management. Proficiency awards are also recognized at local and state levels, providing recognition to members who are exploring and establishing themselves in agricultural career pathways.
Covington High School Hosts First-Ever Industry Day
FFA Hosts Annual Farm to Fork Learning Experience for Elementary Students
Junior High Boys’ Cross Country Team Crowned Conference Champions
Fire Prevention Week Highlight: Marias Technology Helps Protect Our Kindergarteners
State Bound! Band of Bucc Pride Named Reserve Grand Champions
Ramse Vanderhorst Hits 1,000 Career Digs — A Buccaneer Milestone
The Covington Buccs XC team is sending eight runners to the regional meet after a strong performance at districts! The entire girls team and two boys (Kent Welborn & Henry Skaggs) earned the right to advance. Let’s keep the momentum rolling—good luck at REGIONALS, Buccs!
