State Assessments / How do we rank?
by Barb Volle
October 17, 2008
Another year has passed and we have proved our ranks as meeting AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress). As most of you probably know, AYP is the measurement that the state is using to make sure schools are teaching what should be taught and that NO CHILD IS LEFT BEHIND. There has been a lot of talk about this form of measurement since it relies basically on one assessment tool for reading and one for mathematics.
We also test in science, social studies, and writing, but those assessments aren’t part of AYP. Science is now tested every year for grades 4 and 7, and one year in high school. Social Studies is tested in alternating years with Writing. In Social Studies, students in grades 6 and 8 are tested, and the cohort group in high school can be tested any time through the first semester of the senior year. Writing assesses students in grades 5 and 8, and the cohort group in high school can be tested any time through the second semester of their junior year. Not every student in high school will be in a cohort group for Social Studies and Writing, so we aren’t required by the state to test those students, but we have the option to do it if we deem it necessary.
The 2008 AYP target for math was 73.4% for elementary and 64.6% for high school. Since we have facilities that are grades 7-12, our junior high is figured with the high school so they follow the high school guidelines. In reading, the AYP targets were 75.6% for elementary and 72.0% for the high school. If you refer to the graphs that are included you will see that we met these goals for the 2008 school year. Cut scores were set this year in Science and Social Studies since new assessments were developed in these areas. There were also target goals set even though they aren’t part of the AYP at this time. The targets weren’t combined at the junior/senior high levels, but I put our results together, to show a clearer picture of how our students did. The target goals for Science are 4th grade – 73%, 7th grade – 71%, and H=high school – 69%. In Social Studies the goals are 6th grade – 70%, 8th grade – 70% and high school – 68%. You can also refer to the graphs and see that we did quite well in these two areas.
We need to commend our students and teachers, as well as the parents, for all the efforts that have been taken in this process. Now, how will we do this year? I can’t answer that question, nor can anyone else. I can tell you that we will need to meet an AYP target of 77.8% at the elementary level and 70.5% at the high school level in Math. We will also have to meet an increased percentage in reading of 79.7% at the elementary level and 76.7% at the high school. Our teachers are taking every effort and opportunity they can to prepare our students so they will be ready for another year of assessments.
Please click on the link to view the graphs. Testing Graphs
