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The newly released STAR test results for Nevada County show local students performing above the state average for the most part, but as many as a quarter of high school juniors still lag behind in English skills.
For instance, among Nevada Union High School students who took the test, one-quarter of eleventh-graders performed below basic and far below basic in English-language arts. (Of all students enrolled in the grade, more than 97 percent tested.)
At Bear River eleventh graders who took the test, 14 percent performed below basic or far below basic in English. (Of all students enrolled in the grade, more than 98 percent tested.)
Mathematics testing is done in several categories and a small proportion of students take the tests in each grade level. Of those tested, STAR revealed:
• At NU, 14 percent of ninth-graders performed below basic and far below basic in algebra I (with one-third of ninth-graders testing).
• At NU, 32 percent of tenth-graders performed below basic and far below basic in geometry (with about 26 percent of tenth-graders testing).
• At Bear River, 57 percent of eleventh-graders performed below basic and far below basic in integrated math I (with nearly 24 percent of eleventh-graders testing).
• At Bear River, 27 percent of tenth-graders scored below basic and far below basic in geometry (with nearly 39 percent of tenth-graders testing).
• At Bear River, 59 percent of eleventh-graders scored below basic or far below basic in algebra II (with nearly 34 percent of eleventh-graders testing).
Those proportions still show a better performance than students statewide. STAR showed students testing at the lower levels in higher proportions statewide than in Nevada County.
The test scores reveal no clear trends, said Stan Miller, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction with the Nevada County Superintendent of Schools office.
“It’s not appropriate to say over the county we need to work on something,” Miller said. “There are discrepancies (in performance) in a district, even within schools. For each school and each grade, the scores are all over the place.”
Every school district, however, does work at the test score figures and “look at how many students are below basic and far below basic, and if there are appropriate ways to bring them into the basic and the proficient level,” Miller said.
To see the full results of the California's STAR testing of second through eleventh graders, go to http://star.cde.ca.gov/star2007/Viewreport.asp.
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To contact Soumitro Sen, e-mail soumitros@theunion.com or call 477-4229.
For instance, among Nevada Union High School students who took the test, one-quarter of eleventh-graders performed below basic and far below basic in English-language arts. (Of all students enrolled in the grade, more than 97 percent tested.)
At Bear River eleventh graders who took the test, 14 percent performed below basic or far below basic in English. (Of all students enrolled in the grade, more than 98 percent tested.)
Mathematics testing is done in several categories and a small proportion of students take the tests in each grade level. Of those tested, STAR revealed:
• At NU, 14 percent of ninth-graders performed below basic and far below basic in algebra I (with one-third of ninth-graders testing).
• At NU, 32 percent of tenth-graders performed below basic and far below basic in geometry (with about 26 percent of tenth-graders testing).
• At Bear River, 57 percent of eleventh-graders performed below basic and far below basic in integrated math I (with nearly 24 percent of eleventh-graders testing).
• At Bear River, 27 percent of tenth-graders scored below basic and far below basic in geometry (with nearly 39 percent of tenth-graders testing).
• At Bear River, 59 percent of eleventh-graders scored below basic or far below basic in algebra II (with nearly 34 percent of eleventh-graders testing).
Those proportions still show a better performance than students statewide. STAR showed students testing at the lower levels in higher proportions statewide than in Nevada County.
The test scores reveal no clear trends, said Stan Miller, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction with the Nevada County Superintendent of Schools office.
“It’s not appropriate to say over the county we need to work on something,” Miller said. “There are discrepancies (in performance) in a district, even within schools. For each school and each grade, the scores are all over the place.”
Every school district, however, does work at the test score figures and “look at how many students are below basic and far below basic, and if there are appropriate ways to bring them into the basic and the proficient level,” Miller said.
To see the full results of the California's STAR testing of second through eleventh graders, go to http://star.cde.ca.gov/star2007/Viewreport.asp.
ooo
To contact Soumitro Sen, e-mail soumitros@theunion.com or call 477-4229.
