Scott City students score near state averages in major subjects

Although Scott City students continue to work toward proficiency in some areas, the district superintendent said recent Missouri Assessment Program scores reflect an upward trend.

“Overall, I feel like we’re moving in the right direction,” superintendent Brian Lee said.

Although the most recent MAP scores, released late last week by the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, can’t be compared to previous years because the test changed in 2015-2016, Lee said he’s optimistic.

Plus, the district is formulating a plan to boost achievement in weak and strong subjects.

Students were tested last spring in English, mathematics, science and social studies. They had the potential to be designated below basic, basic, proficient and advanced.

This is how Scott City compared to state proficiency percentages:

• In English, local students scored 43.3 percent proficient, compared to 43.9 percent statewide.
• In math, students in Scott City came out 29.4 percent proficient, while their counterparts elsewhere scored 30.8 percent.
• Locally, students tested 33.3 percent proficient in science, while students statewide were at 37.1 percent. “That’s one of the areas we need to focus on — science,” Lee said.
• In social studies, Scott City students exceeded the state average, scoring 42.6 percent proficient, compared to 40 percent statewide.

In terms of grade-level performance, DESE data show fifth- and seventh-graders scored weakest in English districtwide, at 20 percent proficient.

Lee said English performance was up overall, however.

Math also appears to have been a challenge for some grades, with fourth-graders scoring 16 percent proficient, fifth-graders 19 percent, seventh-graders 12 percent and 11th-graders 14 percent.

Certain grade levels also lagged behind the state science average of 37.1 percent proficiency, with fifth-graders at 26.2 percent proficient and eighth-graders at 25.8 percent.

But in high-school Biology I, students knocked their proficiency level out of the park at 47.4 percent proficient.

ljones@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3652

Pertinent address:

3000 Main St., Scott City, Mo.