August 22, 2008

It's back to school

STAR test results give a glimpse of levels of learning

By Bill Highlander
Editor

Summer vacation is over and the classrooms will be filled starting next week for Evergreen students. As young minds crack the books to increase their knowledge of language, history and math, the scores of last year tests give us a glimpse of the levels of learning in our schools.

It’s that time of the year for Evergreen students–pencils, books and teacher’s dirty looks–as school gets back into session.

California administers tests that result in Standardized Testing and Reporting, a gauge of what children are expected to know at each grade level. As with all reports filled with numbers, a reviewer must be cautious in interpretation. For those wishing to delve into the depths of the numbers, the reports are detailed at http://star.cde.ca.gov/star2008/ Viewreport.asp.

In the high schools, students in the ninth and tenth grades are tested on language, math science and history. The tests are multiple choice. A look at some the data and a few comparisons are interesting. For example, mean scores, or the average score of all students who took the test, and the proficiency levels indicate a standard of performance for that school and class.

Mean scores range from a low of 150 to a high of 600. The goal is to have all students at the advanced/proficient level. The rankings are advanced, proficient, basic, below basic and far below basic.