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PEEKSKILL The city school districts math and English Language Arts (ELA) scores on state tests for grades 3-8 continue to lag behind state averages, according to just-released state test results.
The New York State Department of Education released results for all of its school districts Monday, which saw many Peekskill City School District students struggling to reach proficiency and many more failing to reach mastery scores in the two subjects.
In ELA the number of students scoring a three, which is considered proficiency, or better, went down from 2010 for grades 3-8, although decreases in some grades were significantly smaller than others. Third grade reading proficiency dropped from 51 to 46.5 percent, while fourth grade dropped from 47 to 41 percent.
Fifth grade reading proficiency dropped from 50 to 32 percent, sixth grade dropped slightly from 35 to 34 percent and seventh grade. Eighth grade reading proficiency dropped significantly, from 56 to 27.2 percent. In math, the highest number of students scored in the level two category for grades 3-7, with only eighth graders getting the highest numbers in level four.
A complete breakdown of 2011 ELA and math scores can be found in the slide show above. Last year, the state raised the proficiency standard scores to better reflect the level of achievement needed to indicate whether a student is on track to achieve college-ready scores on future state exams (80 or above on a Math Regents and a 75 or above on the ELA Regents exam).
The department also made changes to this years exams to make them more comprehensive and better measures of students skills. According to the education department, 52.8 percent of students in grades 3-8 across the state met or exceeded the ELA proficiency standard, a decrease from 53.2 percent last year. In math, 63.3 percent met or exceeded the state standard, up from 61 percent last year.
Statewide results for minority students, who compose a large percentage of Peekskills student body, reveal the continued persistence of the achievement gap. About 35 percent of black students across grades 3-8 met or exceeded the ELA proficiency standard compared with 52.8 percent for all students and 64.2 percent for white students. About 44 percent met or exceeded the state standard in math, compared with 63.3 percent for all students and 73.3 percent for white students.
Statewide results for Hispanic students also reveal the persistence of the achievement gap, the state reported. About 37 percent of Hispanic students across grades 3-8 met or exceeded the ELA proficiency standard, compared with 52.8 percent for all students and 64.2 percent for white students. About 50 percent of Hispanic students met or exceeded the standard in math compared with 63.3 percent for all students and 73.3 percent for white students.
The tougher state tests are just one step in raising academic performance statewide, according to Education Commissioner John B. King, Jr. "Student outcomes have been stubbornly flat over time, King said. The Regents reform agenda is designed to change that, by driving long-term gains in student performance. Better tests are only one part of the reform strategy. Were also moving forward in our efforts to ensure better training and better support for the teachers and principals in our schools; to provide more transparent and useful data; and to help our lowest performing schools take the necessary steps to turn around their performance or replace them with innovative alternatives."
The Peekskill Board of Education has recognized the challenges in their recent reading scores, and an independent study released funded by the district in June found test scores from 2006 to 2010 had remained stagnant at below average performance levels.
This years state test scores in Peekskill are one of many effects of the recent economic meltdown, said new city schools superintendent James Willis.
Starting in 2008, many of our families have lost jobs and this has affected their children, Willis said. Students in affluent districts continue to do well on these standardized tests, while children of diversity and children in poverty, who have suffered the most in this recession, do not. In addition, Peekskill is entering into the third straight year of drastic cuts in our state aid allocations, which has hindered our ability as a district to bring all the resources we need to bear on educating our children. The state made the tests more challenging and then tied one hand behind our backs as we work to meet the new standards.
Willis said he and the Peekskill Board of Education are now focused on reading and are determined to make the most effective use of their resources we have at hand.
We are analyzing data to identify the students who need intensive assistance, and we are exploring ways to use our technology as intelligently as possible, Willis said. We want to do the best we can for each child. This is all about ensuring that our students can reach their potential and become contributing citizens and caring adults.
The district also named new administrators last month to help boost performance. Joseph Mosey was named the new assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction after five years as principal at Hillcrest Elementary school. Also, Frederick Hutchinson was named director for reading and gifted, a newly created position.
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