Test performance outpaces state

Test performance outpaces state

Posted on 10/19/2016

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEWednesday, October 19, 2016

District students’ performance on new testsoutpaces state; other exam results are mixed

BEAUFORT – District students outperformed their peers across South Carolina in five of six grade levels tested in the first statewide administration of new assessments in English Language Arts and mathematics, according to data released by the South Carolina Department of Education.

“It’s encouraging to see our students outperforming their peers in nearly all of the new SC Ready tests,” said Superintendent Jeff Moss. “The next step will be to analyze these initial results and develop plans to keep improving classroom instruction.”

The Education Department also released 2016 results for statewide science and social studies assessments as well as high school end-of-course exams. Beaufort County students’ performances on those exams were mixed, with some scores higher than last year and some lower.

“There’s a lot of hard work ahead, for educators and for students alike,” Moss said. “Our goals remain the same – to move forward, keep making progress and ultimately see our students perform at the highest levels.”

SC READY results for 2016

SC READY assessments in English Language Arts and mathematics are designed to measure progress toward South Carolina’s new, more rigorous academic standards and higher expectations. Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman said that adopting rigorous standards and accompanying assessments would require an adjustment by students, parents and teachers as educators and students transition to a more challenging academic environment.

Beaufort County students outperformed the state in five of the six grades tested in both mathematics and English Language Arts. District students’ scores – more than 9,500 students were tested – were higher in grades 3-7 but lower for eighth-graders.

In SC READY English language arts:

Grade 3 – 44.5 percent met or exceeded state standards compared to 43.7 statewide. An additional 35.2 percent of district students “approached” meeting state standards.

Grade 4 – 47.4 percent met or exceeded state standards compared to 43.4 statewide. An additional 29 percent of district students “approached” meeting state standards.

Grade 5 – 45.8 percent met or exceeded state standards compared to 41.2 statewide. An additional 34.2 percent of district students “approached” meeting state standards.

Grade 6 – 43.2 percent met or exceeded state standards compared to 41 statewide. An additional 37.8 percent of district students “approached” meeting state standards.

Grade 7 – 42.2 percent met or exceeded state standards compared to 40.7 statewide. An additional 35.8 percent of district students “approached” meeting state standards.

Grade 8 – 44.2 percent met or exceeded state standards compared to 44.7 statewide. An additional 32 percent of district students “approached” meeting state standards.

In SC READY mathematics:

Grade 3 – 57.9 percent met or exceeded state standards compared to 53.7 statewide. An additional 23.2 percent of district students “approached” meeting state standards.

Grade 4 – 50.5 percent met or exceeded state standards compared to 46.7 statewide. An additional 29.5 percent of district students “approached” meeting state standards.

Grade 5 – 54.5 percent met or exceeded state standards compared to 44.3 statewide. An additional 29 percent of district students “approached” meeting state standards.

Grade 6 – 41.6 percent met or exceeded state standards compared to 39.5 statewide. An additional 32.7 percent of district students “approached” meeting state standards.

Grade 7 – 41 percent met or exceeded state standards compared to 34.7 statewide. An additional 35.9 percent of district students “approached” meeting state standards.

Grade 8 – 30.8 percent met or exceeded state standards compared to 32.4 statewide. An additional 39.7 percent of district students “approached” meeting state standards.

SC PASS results for 2016

South Carolina students in grades 4-8 have taken SC PASS assessments in science and social studies since 2009. More than 7,800 students were tested.

In 2016, Beaufort County students’ performance on SC PASS science exams improved in three of the five grades tested:

Grade 4 – 64.5 percent met or exceeded state benchmarks in 2016 compared to 68.6 last year (65 percent statewide).

Grade 5 – 68.3 percent met or exceeded state benchmarks in 2016 compared to 63.8 last year (65.7 statewide).

Grade 6 – 61.3 percent met or exceeded state benchmarks in 2016 compared to 61.5 last year (62.1 percent statewide).

Grade 7 – 72.1 percent met or exceeded state benchmarks in 2016 compared to 65.5 last year (70.6 statewide).

Grade 8 – 62.9 percent met or exceeded state benchmarks in 2016 compared to 60.3 last year (66.2 percent statewide).

Looking at five-year trend data for SC PASS science, Beaufort County scores decreased in four of five grades tested while state scores decreased in all five grades.

Beaufort County students’ performance on SC PASS social studies exams improved in two of the five grade levels tested and improved relative to statewide averages in four of five grade levels tested:

Grade 4 – 80.9 percent met or exceeded state benchmarks in 2016 compared to 84.7 last year (81.3 percent statewide).

Grade 5 – 71.9 percent met or exceeded state benchmarks in 2016 compared to 68.3 last year (71.5 statewide).

Grade 6 – 75.1 percent met or exceeded state benchmarks in 2016 compared to 76.4 last year (76.3 percent statewide).

Grade 7 – 70.4 percent met or exceeded state benchmarks in 2016 compared to 63.8 last year (68.4 statewide).

Grade 8 – 65.1 percent met or exceeded state benchmarks in 2016 compared to 71.7 last year (69.5 percent statewide).

Looking at five-year trend data for SC PASS social studies, Beaufort County scores improved in four of five grades tested while statewide scores improved in two of five grades tested.

End-of-course exams

South Carolina students’ scores on end-of-course exams count for 20 percent of final grades in Algebra 1, English 1, Biology and U.S. History and Constitution. In 2016, Beaufort County students – more than 4,800 tested – improved their percentages of passing grades in two courses in 2016 while passing rates declined in two. Beaufort County scores improved and were higher than state averages on two exams and lower on two:

Algebra 1 – The percentage of students passing decreased from 81.0 percent in 2015 to 79.3 in 2016 (state passing percentage was 81.9).

Biology – The percentage passing decreased from 81.0 in 2015 to 79.8 in 2016 (state passing percentage was 75.7).

English 1 – The percentage passing improved from 73.7 percent in 2015 to 77.9 in 2016 (state passing percentage was 78.6).

U.S. History and Constitution – The percentage passing improved from 71.5 in 2015 to 73.3 in 2016 (state passing percentage was 71.0).

Looking at five-year trend data, district students have improved on two of the four tests:

Algebra 1 – The percentage of students passing decreased from 80.7 in 2012 to 79.3 in 2016.

Biology – The percentage passing decreased from 83.0 percent in 2012 to 79.8 in 2016.

English 1 – The percentage passing improved from 74.9 percent in 2012 to 77.9 in 2016.

U.S. History and Constitution – The percentage passing improved from 47.9 in 2012 to 73.3 in 2016.

The biggest school-level improvements were:

Algebra I: Whale Branch Early College High’s passing rates improved from 44.7 percent in 2012 to 69.7 percent in 2016.