Showing posts with label CAPT. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CAPT. Show all posts
August 13, 2013
Bristol CAPT test scores sink
July 29, 2009
CAPT scores appear good
I haven't had a chance to analyze them, but it appears that Bristol students did well on last spring's CAPT tests.
The fourth and seventh grade classes posted particularly solid gains in every subject (math, reading and writing).
Only third graders, who saw math and writing scores sink, failed to show overall improvement.
Of course, details matter so we'll know more as the results are broken down by race, sex, individual schools and more. At first glance, though, it looks good for Bristol.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
The fourth and seventh grade classes posted particularly solid gains in every subject (math, reading and writing).
Only third graders, who saw math and writing scores sink, failed to show overall improvement.
Of course, details matter so we'll know more as the results are broken down by race, sex, individual schools and more. At first glance, though, it looks good for Bristol.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
July 21, 2008
Better test scores tied to higher home values
Here's an interesting CMT analysis by an unusually thoughtful Realtor, Amy Bergquist, who has correlated home prices with test scores for many nearby towns: LINK
Bristol's median house sold for $199,500 during the second quarter, according to Bergquist. As a whole, 62.5 percent of 8th graders in Bristol met goal on the CMTs. With those numbers, you can see where Bristol falls on the spectrum.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Bristol's median house sold for $199,500 during the second quarter, according to Bergquist. As a whole, 62.5 percent of 8th graders in Bristol met goal on the CMTs. With those numbers, you can see where Bristol falls on the spectrum.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
July 18, 2008
Bristol CAPT scores - a graphic change this year
With a little help from my son, whose Excel education far exceeds my own, I graphed Bristol's CAPT test score trends since the new generation of the test went into effect at the turn of the century. It clearly shows that this year's results are a big step up from the normal ups and downs, proving either that the schools are doing something right or that there were some especially bright sophomores this time around.
Anyway, take a look at the numbers and the graph of Bristol sophomores meeting the state CAPT goals each year: GRAPH (PDF)
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Anyway, take a look at the numbers and the graph of Bristol sophomores meeting the state CAPT goals each year: GRAPH (PDF)
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
July 15, 2008
Educators do 'the happy dance' over test scores
The share of the city’s 10th graders who mastered basic skills on annual statewide test soared this year.
"In Bristol, we have fantastic results across the board," said Susan Moreau, deputy superintendent. "I did the happy dance this morning."
The percentage of the city’s sophomores who scored at or above the statewide goal soared in three of the four areas tested: math, science and writing. They held their own in reading.
Perhaps the most startling results came among the 132 students who qualify for free or reduced price school lunches – an indicator of poverty.
The percentage of students from low-income families who met the state goals rose about 40 percent in both math and writing. They also posted solid gains in science and reading, the test scores show.
The scores as a whole showed that the goals set by the district and the strategies in place to meet them paid off, according to Moreau.
"This is the proof of the pudding," said Moreau
Moreau said 90 percent of the Bristol students scored proficient in reading, 91 percent in writing – tallies she found thrilling.
"They're just really phenomenal results," said Moreau. "To have gone over 90 percent in two areas is very exciting to us. That tells us that even our most needy learners are growing and becoming proficient."
The district showed a huge growth over last year's 10th grade students, said Moreau, who scored 87 percent in reading and writing.
"Statewide results are up somewhat as well," said Moreau, "but not to the extent that ours are up."
Across Connecticut, 41,700 students took the CAPT, said Moreau. In Bristol, there were 609 high school sophomores who took it. That’s 30 fewer students than took last year’s exam.
The high scores this year are a tribute to administrators, teachers and students, said Moreau.
Unless students are willing to put in the effort needed to learn and score high, the district won't see these kinds of results.
The test measures skills that will be needed for life, said Moreau.
"If you can't read and you can't write and you can't compute," Moreau said, the future economic outlook isn't as rosy.
The district spends a lot of time helping teachers learn new ways of reaching students. Teachers meet to collaborate with others teaching the same classes, or the same grade level, Moreau said.
If one teaching method doesn't work, Moreau said, a teacher will then have "a bag of tricks to try to teach that student in other ways."
In Bristol, about 10 to 12 percent of the students are in special education, according to Moreau. Of those students, Moreau said, just 1 or 2 percent take something different than the CAPT.
Federal law mandates that the special education students take the same tests as the rest of the class, Moreau said.
"No Child Left Behind doesn't distinguish," Moreau said. "By 2014, all students in all U.S. schools are to be 100 percent proficient in reading and mathematics."
She said more than half the special education students are now proficient in math, but scores in other areas aren't as good."Nationally, No Child Left Behind has focused attention on student achievement," said Moreau. "There are positives."
Bristol sophomores meeting state CAPT goals
Math
2007 – 51.5
2008 – 61.9
Science
2007 – 40.8
2008 – 52.3
Reading
2007 – 50.2
2008 – 50.2
Writing
2007 – 50.2
2008 – 63.4
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
"In Bristol, we have fantastic results across the board," said Susan Moreau, deputy superintendent. "I did the happy dance this morning."
The percentage of the city’s sophomores who scored at or above the statewide goal soared in three of the four areas tested: math, science and writing. They held their own in reading.
Perhaps the most startling results came among the 132 students who qualify for free or reduced price school lunches – an indicator of poverty.
The percentage of students from low-income families who met the state goals rose about 40 percent in both math and writing. They also posted solid gains in science and reading, the test scores show.
The scores as a whole showed that the goals set by the district and the strategies in place to meet them paid off, according to Moreau.
"This is the proof of the pudding," said Moreau
Moreau said 90 percent of the Bristol students scored proficient in reading, 91 percent in writing – tallies she found thrilling.
"They're just really phenomenal results," said Moreau. "To have gone over 90 percent in two areas is very exciting to us. That tells us that even our most needy learners are growing and becoming proficient."
The district showed a huge growth over last year's 10th grade students, said Moreau, who scored 87 percent in reading and writing.
"Statewide results are up somewhat as well," said Moreau, "but not to the extent that ours are up."
Across Connecticut, 41,700 students took the CAPT, said Moreau. In Bristol, there were 609 high school sophomores who took it. That’s 30 fewer students than took last year’s exam.
The high scores this year are a tribute to administrators, teachers and students, said Moreau.
Unless students are willing to put in the effort needed to learn and score high, the district won't see these kinds of results.
The test measures skills that will be needed for life, said Moreau.
"If you can't read and you can't write and you can't compute," Moreau said, the future economic outlook isn't as rosy.
The district spends a lot of time helping teachers learn new ways of reaching students. Teachers meet to collaborate with others teaching the same classes, or the same grade level, Moreau said.
If one teaching method doesn't work, Moreau said, a teacher will then have "a bag of tricks to try to teach that student in other ways."
In Bristol, about 10 to 12 percent of the students are in special education, according to Moreau. Of those students, Moreau said, just 1 or 2 percent take something different than the CAPT.
Federal law mandates that the special education students take the same tests as the rest of the class, Moreau said.
"No Child Left Behind doesn't distinguish," Moreau said. "By 2014, all students in all U.S. schools are to be 100 percent proficient in reading and mathematics."
She said more than half the special education students are now proficient in math, but scores in other areas aren't as good."Nationally, No Child Left Behind has focused attention on student achievement," said Moreau. "There are positives."
Bristol sophomores meeting state CAPT goals
Math
2007 – 51.5
2008 – 61.9
Science
2007 – 40.8
2008 – 52.3
Reading
2007 – 50.2
2008 – 50.2
Writing
2007 – 50.2
2008 – 63.4
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Bristol CAPT test scores up sharply
Haven't had a chance to analyze this yet, but it appears that in three of four categories, Bristol's CAPT test scores rose by about 20 percent in all.
Here's a PDF of last year's scores and this year's scores
Link to find the scores of any Connecticut districts
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Here's a PDF of last year's scores and this year's scores
Link to find the scores of any Connecticut districts
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
August 31, 2007
School boss talks about test results
PRESS RELEASE
August 31, 2007
Philip A. Streifer, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Bristol Public School Students Demonstrate Significant Gains in Achievement
Bristol students surpassed previous achievement targets on most of the subtest areas of the March 2007 Connecticut Mastery Test (CMT) and Connecticut Academic Performance Test (CAPT). At least 88% of Bristol 10th grade students were proficient in math, science, reading and writing, significantly exceeding state averages. Recently released CAPT data demonstrates the successful work of our teachers and students on improving not only the achievement of all Bristol students, but also for subgroups delineated by Federal “No Child Left Behind” legislation.
The Connecticut State Department of Education is required to annually identify schools and districts “In Need of Improvement” as a result of student achievement on the CMT and CAPT. The Bristol Public Schools were identified as such a district for the past three years. However, this year, due to significant improvement in our students’ achievement, we achieved ‘safe harbor’. Safe Harbor means that our students made significant gains in achievement compared to last year. Continued improvement in student achievement on the March 2008 CMT and CAPT will remove Bristol from that list.
Four Bristol schools were identified as in need of improvement; Edgewood, South Side and Northeast for subgroup performance. Subgroups include students with disabilities, English language learners, economically disadvantaged and individual race categories. O’Connell School was identified as in need of whole school improvement. Strategies are developed within each school’s Accountability Plan to address the needs of these learners. Bristol’s continued high expectations for student achievement and focus on best instructional practices will continue to raise the achievement of all learners in our schools.
According to Connecticut Education Commissioner, Mark McQuillan, one third of Connecticut schools were found to be in need of improvement. Bristol’s results must be considered within the context of the entire district’s improving performance as detailed in recent District press releases. We are confident that the reforms being implemented in Bristol schools will lead to continued improvements in all of our schools.
*******
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
August 31, 2007
Philip A. Streifer, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Bristol Public School Students Demonstrate Significant Gains in Achievement
Bristol students surpassed previous achievement targets on most of the subtest areas of the March 2007 Connecticut Mastery Test (CMT) and Connecticut Academic Performance Test (CAPT). At least 88% of Bristol 10th grade students were proficient in math, science, reading and writing, significantly exceeding state averages. Recently released CAPT data demonstrates the successful work of our teachers and students on improving not only the achievement of all Bristol students, but also for subgroups delineated by Federal “No Child Left Behind” legislation.
The Connecticut State Department of Education is required to annually identify schools and districts “In Need of Improvement” as a result of student achievement on the CMT and CAPT. The Bristol Public Schools were identified as such a district for the past three years. However, this year, due to significant improvement in our students’ achievement, we achieved ‘safe harbor’. Safe Harbor means that our students made significant gains in achievement compared to last year. Continued improvement in student achievement on the March 2008 CMT and CAPT will remove Bristol from that list.
Four Bristol schools were identified as in need of improvement; Edgewood, South Side and Northeast for subgroup performance. Subgroups include students with disabilities, English language learners, economically disadvantaged and individual race categories. O’Connell School was identified as in need of whole school improvement. Strategies are developed within each school’s Accountability Plan to address the needs of these learners. Bristol’s continued high expectations for student achievement and focus on best instructional practices will continue to raise the achievement of all learners in our schools.
According to Connecticut Education Commissioner, Mark McQuillan, one third of Connecticut schools were found to be in need of improvement. Bristol’s results must be considered within the context of the entire district’s improving performance as detailed in recent District press releases. We are confident that the reforms being implemented in Bristol schools will lead to continued improvements in all of our schools.
*******
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
August 30, 2007
Bristol CAPT scores
From a press release issued by Bristol schools today:
Bristol’s tenth grade students performed well on the Connecticut Academic Performance Test. More than 87% of Bristol students scored at or above the Proficient level in each of the content areas assessed: mathematics, reading, writing, and science. Of even greater importance is the percent of students achieving goal level, the state’s target for academic performance on the CAPT. More than half of Bristol’s tenth grade students achieved at the Goal level in mathematics, reading, and writing, and 41% achieved goal in science.
*******
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)