The California Department of Education released the first results of a new form of state testing Wednesday, which showed most students in San Benito County—like those across the state—did not meet the new standards.
Just two out of 11 school districts in the county had a higher percentage of students meeting the standards than not meeting them.
Statewide, 44 percent of students met or exceeded the new state standards in English, while 38 percent of students in the county performed at the same level. At the state level, 33 percent of the tested students met or exceeded state standards in math, while 25 percent performed at the same level in the county.
“The results show our starting point as a state, a window into where California students are in meeting tougher academic standards that emphasize critical thinking, problem solving, and analytical writing,” said Tom Torlakson, the state superintendent of public instruction, in a press release.
One concern, Torlakson said, is the results indicate the state has a significant difference in scores among students from low-income families, English learners and some ethnic groups compared to other student groups, according to the press release.
Statewide, 31 percent of the students from low-income families met or exceeded standards in English while 64 percent of the students coming from more privileged families showed the same level of achievement. In math, statewide, 21 percent of the students coming from low-income families met or exceeded standards,while 53 percent of the students coming from moreprivileged families displayed an equal level of subject mastery.
Southside School District proved the all-star of this county’s districts with 72 percent of tested students meeting or exceeding standards in English and 58 percent meeting or exceeding standards in math. North County Joint Union School District, another one school district, had 56 percent of its tested students meet or exceed the state standards in English.
The new test replaces STAR exams— a multiple choice, paper-based standardized test—and caused technology growing pains in many districts because it was the first state assessment that included a section that had to be taken on a computer.
The exam, which is taken by students in grades three through eight plus grade 11, tests the state’s new standards for math and literacy, referred to as the Common Core.
A total of 6,741 of the 6,872 students enrolled in testable grades in the county took the exams, meaning the data represents 98 percent of local students.
“California’s new standards and tests are challenging for schools to teach and for students to learn, so I am encouraged that many students are at or near achievement standards,” Torlakson said. “However, just as we expected, many students need to make more progress. Our job is to support students, teachers, and schools as they do.”
HSD Standards Met
English: 32%
Math: 23%
SBHS Standards Met
English: 45%
Math: 18%
Aromas-San Juan Standards Met
English: 44%
Math: 26%
To look at the results of your school site, go to: caaspp.cde.ca.gov/sb2015/Search
