Rock Creek Schools Continue to Achieve Excellence in State Tests
by Darrel Stufflebeam
October 13, 2007
Rock Creek Schools Continue to Achieve Excellence in State Tests
Once a year, I get to brag about our extraordinarily high state test scores and this is my week to do so. As you probably know, schools have to test students in math and reading in grades 3-8 and one grade in high school. Students can score in one of five categories but must score in one of the top three categories in order to make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). Schools must continue to increase the number of students achieving AYP every year until they reach 100% by the year 2014. Also, the state recognizes “Standards of Excellence” for subject areas, grade levels, and schools that have a large number of students in the highest categories and few in the lowest.
Not only did we make AYP on every test, all of our schools achieved the state Standard of Excellence in both reading and math. In addition, we achieved the Standard of Excellence in every single reading and math test at every grade level except for three. In other words, we met the Standard of Excellence in 21 out of 24 math and reading tests. We also consistently did much better than the state average in all tests at all grade levels. Here are a few examples:
- In reading, 54.4% of our 4th graders scored in the top category (Exemplary) while 26.6% did so in the state
- In reading, 81.2% of our 8th graders scored in the top two categories while 53.3% did so in the state
- In reading, we had zero 11th grade students score in the bottom category (Academic Warning) while the state average was 7.2%
- In math, 70.5% of our 3rd graders scored in the top category. Think about that! The state average was 32.1%
- In math, 84.3% of our 6th graders scored in the top two categories while the state average was 52.8.
- In math, 53.6% of our 11th graders scored in the top two categories. The state average was 37.2.
You can view all of the details and read our district and building report cards on our website at www.rockcreekschools.org. Go to “District Information” and then click on “District Report Card”.
The credit for these outstanding achievements goes to our building administrators, teachers, and students. It’s also vital that we have such a supportive and far-sighted school board. We will continue to offer the best possible product at the lowest possible price.
