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Students making the grade, AIMS scores show
Thelma Grimes/San Pedro Valley News-Sun
Thelma Grimes
SAN PEDRO VALLEY NEWS-Sun
Arizona students are making gains in every subject and every grade level.
That's according to AIMS test scores released last week by Arizona Department of Education. Arizona Schools Chief Tom Horne is happy with the progress districts are making.
"Students and teachers have been working very hard to improve test scores in reading, writing, math and science," Horne said. "We are showing steady increases in our overall academic performances state-wide," Horne said.
Statewide scores in reading and writing showed the most improvement. In writing, 75 percent of students tested were proficient, up from 65 percent last year. In reading, there was a three percent gain from last year, with 68 percent of the students tested passing.
AIMS, or Arizona's Instrument for Measuring Standards, has become important to students and educators statewide, as mandates now require high school seniors to pass all three portions before they can be deemed eligible to graduate.
Giving students incentive to do better, state universities also offer tuition breaks to those receiving excelling marks on three portions.
This year, the state also introduced a new section, testing students on their knowledge in science.
Aiming high, state administrators have said they want 100 percent of students tested to be proficient in the reading and writing portions by the 2013-14 school year.
In the 2009 results, Benson High Schools, the largest school in the San Pedro Valley, had the most success in reading and writing.
Seventy-four percent of the sophomores tested passed the reading portion, with three percent exceeding the set standards. In writing, 65 percent passed the test, while 26 percent were approaching standards.
Students falling below standards, or who receive a grade of approaching standards have two years to retake the test and pass before graduating.
Benson students posted the lowest scores in mathematics.
Of the 95 sophomores tested, 21 percent fell below standards, nine percent are approaching them, 56 percent met them and 14 percent exceeded them.
Of the 34 juniors tested, 29 percent failed, 26 percent are approaching, 32 percent passed and 12 percent exceeded standards.
Of the 10 seniors tested, seven failed, while three passed.
Math numbers state-wide were low, with 40 percent of all students tested failing to meet standards.
David Woodall, superintendent of the district, said the numbers are still new and administrators are still going over them. Still he noted the school has made strides in some areas, and will need improvements in others.
Tamara Lockhart, Benson Schools director of curriculum, said she's studied the numbers a little more, and they were consistent this year.
"Looking over last year compared to this year, we remained consistent. We maintained, and for adequate yearly progress that's where we need to be," she said.
St. David High School also had strong numbers in reading and writing. In Reading, 68 percent of the 28 sophomores tested met standards, while 14 percent exceeded them. In writing, 57 percent passed, and seven percent exceeded standards. Thirty-six percent were approaching the standard.
In mathematics, the St. David students also performed well, exceeding the state average. Of the 28 sophomores tested, 57 percent met standards, and 21 percent exceeded. Of those, 22 percent of the students must retake the test over the next two years.
Kate Mueller, superintendent of St. David Schools, said, "We are satisfied with the overall results, and are particularly pleased with the gains made at the third grade level in reading and writing, the sixth grade level in all areas, the seventh and eighth grade level in writing and the 10th grade level in math and reading.
"We will continue with our district-wide efforts to improve reading and writing across the curriculum, and to analyze all data to determine gaps in the curriculum."
While Pomerene doesn't have a high school, the district's elementary school students performed well. In math, grades three through eight posted a high percentage of students passing in math, reading and writing.
Elementary students in Benson and St. David also had a high percentage of students meet or exceed standards.
Thelma Grimes
SAN PEDRO VALLEY NEWS-Sun
Arizona students are making gains in every subject and every grade level.
That's according to AIMS test scores released last week by Arizona Department of Education. Arizona Schools Chief Tom Horne is happy with the progress districts are making.
"Students and teachers have been working very hard to improve test scores in reading, writing, math and science," Horne said. "We are showing steady increases in our overall academic performances state-wide," Horne said.
Statewide scores in reading and writing showed the most improvement. In writing, 75 percent of students tested were proficient, up from 65 percent last year. In reading, there was a three percent gain from last year, with 68 percent of the students tested passing.
AIMS, or Arizona's Instrument for Measuring Standards, has become important to students and educators statewide, as mandates now require high school seniors to pass all three portions before they can be deemed eligible to graduate.
Giving students incentive to do better, state universities also offer tuition breaks to those receiving excelling marks on three portions.
This year, the state also introduced a new section, testing students on their knowledge in science.
Aiming high, state administrators have said they want 100 percent of students tested to be proficient in the reading and writing portions by the 2013-14 school year.
In the 2009 results, Benson High Schools, the largest school in the San Pedro Valley, had the most success in reading and writing.
Seventy-four percent of the sophomores tested passed the reading portion, with three percent exceeding the set standards. In writing, 65 percent passed the test, while 26 percent were approaching standards.
Students falling below standards, or who receive a grade of approaching standards have two years to retake the test and pass before graduating.
Benson students posted the lowest scores in mathematics.
Of the 95 sophomores tested, 21 percent fell below standards, nine percent are approaching them, 56 percent met them and 14 percent exceeded them.
Of the 34 juniors tested, 29 percent failed, 26 percent are approaching, 32 percent passed and 12 percent exceeded standards.
Of the 10 seniors tested, seven failed, while three passed.
Math numbers state-wide were low, with 40 percent of all students tested failing to meet standards.
David Woodall, superintendent of the district, said the numbers are still new and administrators are still going over them. Still he noted the school has made strides in some areas, and will need improvements in others.
Tamara Lockhart, Benson Schools director of curriculum, said she's studied the numbers a little more, and they were consistent this year.
"Looking over last year compared to this year, we remained consistent. We maintained, and for adequate yearly progress that's where we need to be," she said.
St. David High School also had strong numbers in reading and writing. In Reading, 68 percent of the 28 sophomores tested met standards, while 14 percent exceeded them. In writing, 57 percent passed, and seven percent exceeded standards. Thirty-six percent were approaching the standard.
In mathematics, the St. David students also performed well, exceeding the state average. Of the 28 sophomores tested, 57 percent met standards, and 21 percent exceeded. Of those, 22 percent of the students must retake the test over the next two years.
Kate Mueller, superintendent of St. David Schools, said, "We are satisfied with the overall results, and are particularly pleased with the gains made at the third grade level in reading and writing, the sixth grade level in all areas, the seventh and eighth grade level in writing and the 10th grade level in math and reading.
"We will continue with our district-wide efforts to improve reading and writing across the curriculum, and to analyze all data to determine gaps in the curriculum."
While Pomerene doesn't have a high school, the district's elementary school students performed well. In math, grades three through eight posted a high percentage of students passing in math, reading and writing.
Elementary students in Benson and St. David also had a high percentage of students meet or exceed standards.
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proud parent wrote on Jul 22, 2009 10:44 AM: