ARMONK, N.Y. -- The New York State Education Department released the results of math and English state tests Tuesday. Based on the results, Armonk mom Denise Martino said she thinks the tests may be beneficial to students long term but she also admits she doesnt spend a whole lot of time deciphering her childrens results.
Test results from participating third grade through eighth grade students in Westchester County showed that fourth grade was the best scoring grade level in both math, at 74 percent proficiency, and English Language Arts (ELA), with a 68 percent proficiency.
"I basically just look at the grid and the rating and I dont do any more research than that, Martino said. From this age level to going through the SATs, starting young and testing well is something thats important long-term because when you apply to colleges a large part of it, along with grades, is the SATs.
Martinos son, Michael Martino, who completed the state tests last May, said he likes the tests because he normally does pretty well on them.
I think the test is good and it gets me to study, Michael said. Some parts are really easy and some parts arent but it depends on what type of student you are. I mean, I usually do good on it and I like it.
Library employee Susanne Percello,a mother of four whose youngest will enter sixth grade this year, has a totally different opinion of standardized testing.
Im not a big fan of the tests in general, Percello said. I think its more for the schools than for the students. Its about how well the schools are doing their job as opposed to how well the student is doing.
Percello said she believes some standardized testing is okay but she would like to see some of it go way.
I do think theres way too much testing and I figure, we survived our childhoods without this much testing, and were doing ok now, Percello said. Theres a place for some testing, I do think we have too much but I wouldnt take all of it away. Some testing would be ok but Id like less than we have now.
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