photo by Hannah Reel

Eighth-grader Alexis Thompson, 16, works on her language arts assignment during class.

After re-takes, 80 percent achieve promotional standards on tests

By Vershal Hogan (Contact) | The Natchez Democrat

Published Thursday, September 10, 2009

VIDALIA — With summer re-takes completed, 77 percent of fourth graders and 80 percent of eighth graders achieved the promotional standard for the LEAP test in 2009.

While the fourth-grade percentage stands at the same point it did in 2008, the eighth grade promotion rate rose two points from 78 in 2008.

Concordia Parish’s eighth graders surpassed the statewide average of 79 percent of testers achieving promotional standards, while the parish’s fourth graders lingered six points below the state average of 83.

In practical numbers, that means 257 of 335 fourth graders and 208 of 260 eighth graders were promoted following testing.

Though the school district has had these numbers since August, they had not calculated them into percentages like the state did, Academic Director Paul Nelson said.

“What we have basically looked at (at this point) is numbers and individuals, trying to figure out how many of this group at this school will move up, do we need more classes at the high school, that sort of thing,” Nelson said.

Nelson said the district’s ultimate goal is to do better in during initial testing in the spring.

“I am hoping we will continue to show some growth and have fewer and fewer students in summer school,” he said.

LEAP test scores are broken down into five categories — advanced, mastery, basic, approaching basic and unacceptable.

To achieve promotional standards, students must score basic in either math or English language arts and at least approaching basic in the other.

Following testing, 18 percent of the parish fourth graders achieved basic in reading, while 47 percent scored approaching basic and 36 percent were rated as unacceptable.

Statewide, 1 percent of fourth graders were rated mastery in reading, while 18 percent were basic, 49 percent approaching basic and 32 percent unacceptable.

In math, 18 percent of the parish’s fourth graders scored basic, 33 percent approaching basic and 50 percent unacceptable.

Statewide, 1 percent of fourth-grade math testers were rated mastery, 18 percent basic, 34 percent approaching basic and 46 percent unacceptable.

In eighth-grade English language arts, 2 percent of the parish’s students were rated advanced, 16 percent basic, 55 approaching basic and 27 percent unsatisfactory.

Statewide, 1 percent of eighth graders tested mastery in English language arts, while 15 percent tested basic, 61 percent tested approaching basic and 23 percent tested unacceptable.

In math, 1 percent of the parish eighth graders tested at advanced, 13 percent tested at basic, 35 percent at approaching basic and 51 percent at unacceptable.

At a statewide level, 21 percent of students tested in math were rated basic, 39 percent approaching basic and 40 percent unacceptable.

The testing percentages, made available through the state department of education, were rounded, and may not equal exactly 100 percent when totaled.

Vidalia Junior High School Principal Whest Shirley said last year the school focused on certain areas within the math discipline, such as measurements, and saw improvements in that area.

While continuing to work to improve math scores, Shirley said the school would also focus on reading comprehension within the English disciplines.

“We know that a student who scores high on reading comprehension will have a correlation of high scores in areas like the sciences,” he said.

Individual school results have not yet been released.