Results from both the California Standardized Testing and
Reporting program and the California High School Exit Exam show
that San Benito High School needs to improve in math, but is doing
well in English.
Hollister – Results from both the California Standardized Testing and Reporting program and the California High School Exit Exam show that San Benito High School needs to improve in math, but is doing well in English.
SBHS Superintendent Jean Burns Slater has been poring over data from both tests, which are required for the federal No Child Left Behind Act and for state graduation requirements, to determine how the district can improve scores and what skills need to be emphasized.
STAR and CAHSEE results give a “snapshot” of a single period of time, Burns Slater said, and often provide schools with detailed evidence of what classes and skill sets need to be emphasized.
STAR English-language arts test results show that SBHS freshman have steadily increased performance over the last five years. This year 43 percent of freshmen scored proficient or better, exactly the same as students statewide. At SBHS the number of freshman who scored proficient or better was 14 percentage points higher this year than it was in 2001. Statewide, over the same period of time the number of proficient or better freshman students increased 15 percentage points.
Slater said she believed the school’s English classes were going well, but was concerned about the school’s math scores.
STAR results show that only 12 percent of the 222 SBHS freshmen enrolled in general mathematics, remedial math classes with grade six and seven standards, tested as proficient in the subject. However, the number of students enrolled in remedial math classes dropped by more than 5 percentage points and the number of students enrolled in Algebra I increased by 7 percentage points – which means this year more students qualified to take more difficult math classes than last year.
The number of juniors who scored proficient or better on Algebra II dropped by four percentage points over last three years, to 7 percent, far below the 12 percent statewide total.
STAR results also indicate that freshman enrolled in Algebra I perform better on the STAR test than juniors enrolled in the same class taking the same test. For example 7 percent of freshmen scored in the far below basic category compared to 40 percent of juniors.
“There’s always room for improvement,” Superintendent Slater said. “But, we are not pleased with our math scores.”
Slater said she wished the school had performed better and will be working with other district administrators as well as teachers to improve test scores for next year. For example, students who have failed to test either proficient or advanced, will be taking a regular math class and a math proficiency class next year. The district has also purchased new math textbooks and revised the curriculum of many math classes.
The district will also be conducting its own benchmark assessment tests throughout the coming school year to determine which standards have been achieved and which need to re-taught with more emphasis, Slater said.
Slater also cautioned that test results don’t always show exactly what students have learned.
“We need to look at our students in a variety of ways, not just testing,” she said.
California High School Exit Exam results are especially important this year because the class of 2006 is the first class in the state required to pass the exam in order to receive a high school diploma. Results indicate that 62 percent of SBHS students passed the math section of the test and 67 percent passed the English-language arts section. The state did not release data showing how many students had passed both.
Slater and others will be working throughout the year to improve both STAR and CAHSEE test scores, but Slater said course and curriculum changes may several years to translate into better test scores. However, Slater is confident that SBHS scores will be higher next year.
“I expect scores to improve every year,” Slater said.
Brett Rowland covers education for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or [email protected]
