Jackson students score above state averages

Overall, the Jackson School District's 2015 Missouri Assessment Program scores exceeded state averages. While the results can't be compared to previous years, district officials said the data will be used to see where improvements can be made.

Last month, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education released statewide and district MAP results -- the first from an assessment given in the spring that was designed to gauge how well students are learning standards fully implemented for the first time last school year.

The new math and English standards are aligned with national Common Core guidelines for what students should learn in each grade, but students again will face a different test after lawmakers acted to block state money from going to the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium -- linked to Common Core -- and required the education department to develop a new, Missouri-based assessment.

For grades three through eight, this year also was the first time students were tested online.

"Which overall went well, but that's kind of an additional wrinkle when you look at test scores," said Matt Lacy, associate superintendent of personnel and instruction at Jackson.

The district scored an average of 64.3 percent in English language arts, compared to 59.7 percent statewide; Jackson math scores averaged 54.8 percent, compared to 45.2 percent for the state; science scores in Jackson averaged 66.7 percent to the state's 56.7 percent; and social studies scores were 74.5 percent, compared to 63.4 percent statewide, DESE figures show.

"We've just looked at those test scores for this year, and we go through and use it as a chance to reflect on our curriculum," Lacy said. "We're about continuous improvement, so we go through and use it as an opportunity for reflection -- what changes we might want to make, what adjustments we can make in our curriculum to make it a better experience for our teachers and students."

The scores, Lacy added, also are a reflection of the staff's efforts.

"They work hard not to only make sure we have good assessment scores, but the kids every day in the classroom have a good experience," he said. "We are going to work to get better, but are pleased with these scores."

Results

Students can score below basic, basic, proficient and advanced on the exams, but the state looks at the sum of the proficient and advanced percentages.

The assessments are standards based. When students are proficient, they are reaching those standards.

More than half Missouri's students in grades three through eight scored proficient in English, with a low of 55 percent of sixth-grade students testing at proficient and a high of about 59 percent in fifth grade. A high of 52 percent of third-grade students statewide were at least proficient in math. Scores dropped in the higher grades to about 28 percent of some eighth-grade students testing as proficient.

Millersville Elementary

At Millersville Elementary, 71.4 percent of third-grade students passed English, and 85.7 percent passed math.

North Elementary

At North Elementary, half of third-grade students passed English, and 44.4 percent passed math.

At the fourth-grade level, 55 percent scored proficient or higher in English, and 35 percent passed math.

Half of fifth-grade students passed English and 23 percent passed math, with 43.8 percent scoring below basic. Nearly 42 percent of the students scored proficient or higher in science.

Orchard Drive Elementary

Nearly 64 percent of third-graders at Orchard Drive Elementary passed English, and 55.5 percent passed math.

South Elementary

The highest passing rate for third-graders at South Elementary was in English, with 57 percent of students scoring proficient or higher. Forty-seven percent of the students passed math.

At the fourth-grade level, 55 percent of students passed English and math.

Seventy-one percent of fifth-graders passed English, 45.1 percent passed math, and 61.3 percent passed science.

West Lane Elementary

At West Lane Elementary, 67.5 percent of third-grade students passed English, and 55 percent passed math.

Nearly 60 percent of fourth-graders passed English, and 52.5 percent passed math.

At the fifth-grade level, 58.1 percent passed English, 43.8 percent passed math, and 60.4 percent passed science.

Middle school

At the Jackson Middle School, 58.8 percent of sixth-grade students scored proficient or higher in English, and 47.4 percent passed math. At the seventh-grade level, 52 percent passed English, and 31.8 percent passed math.

Junior high school

At R.O. Hawkins Junior High School, 68.8 percent of eighth-grade students passed English, 62.5 percent passed math, and 58.7 percent passed science.

Slightly more than 85 percent of ninth-grade students scored proficient or higher in English I. In math, 93.5 percent passed algebra I, and 100 percent passed geometry. Nearly 98 percent of students passed biology I.

Senior high school

At Jackson Senior High School, 50 percent of students passed English I, and 84 percent passed English II.

In math, 41.3 percent of high school students passed algebra I, 74.2 percent passed algebra II, and 76.2 percent passed geometry.

Nearly 73 percent of students scored proficient or higher in government, and 52.5 percent passed American history. About 77 percent passed biology I.

klamb@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3639

Pertinent address:

614 E. Adams St., Jackson, Mo.