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TARRYTOWN, N.Y. Average state test scores for students in grades three through eight differed greatly between the Union Free School District of the Tarrytowns and other schools in Westchester County.
In every grade and subject except the eighth grade English test, the Westchester County average was higher than the Tarrytowns in both math and English. In grades four through seven, excluding the seventh grade English test, the differences between averages were in the double digits. For the seventh grade math test, the county average was 23 points higher than TUFSD.
Superintendent Howard Smith has said that the district is already aware of an issue with math and has taken steps to fix it. Smith said the district tries to stay away from developing a curriculum based on test-preparedness.
"We still really believe ... children are entitled to a well-rounded education," Smith said.
The biggest differences were on math tests in grades five and seven. In seventh-grade math, the county averaged 23 points higher than the Tarrytowns. In fifth-grade math, the county averaged 14 points higher than the Tarrytowns.
Tarrytowns students in eighth-grade did about the same or better than the county average on both English and math tests. Students in the Tarrytowns averaged two points lower than the county average on the math test and one point higher than the county on the English test.
Although seventh-grade Tarrytowns students scored more than 20 points lower than the county average on the math test, they scored only three points lower than the county average on the English test.
Full results for both TUFSD and Westchester County are listed in the graph above.
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