New test results show gains in algebra, geometry; dip in biology

Results from the state’s 2010 End-of-Course exams show gains over last year in algebra I and geometry achievement levels for public school students, but they reveal a decline in biology scores. All scores for this and previous years are included in the attached charts.

The algebra I scores take on added significance this year as the 2009-2010 winter and spring administrations of the exams for ninth-graders and younger are the first to fall under the state’s “high stakes” testing for graduation requirements.

Of the 353 seventh-, eighth- and ninth-graders who took the exam in January, 91.5% passed, while 93% of the 33,093 students in those grades taking the April exam passed. Those who failed their first try will have two opportunities to undergo remediation and then retake the exam. If they still fail after three attempts, an alternative form of remediation will be made available to them and then they will take an alternative, computer-based exam.

The algebra I and geometry End-of-Course exams are used in the calculations to identify schools in need of improvement under the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (No Child Left Behind). A score of “proficient” — which is higher than a score of “pass” — must be attained under the federal requirements.

TEST HIGHLIGHTS
• On the algebra I End-of-Course Exam, 73% scored proficient or higher in January and 76% did so in April.
• On geometry, 76% scored proficient or higher in January and 69% did in April.
• On biology, 40% scored proficient or higher in January and 36% did in April.

“The good news is more than nine out of ten students passed this test the first time around,” Tom W. Kimbrell, Arkansas commissioner of education, said in a statement. “But the great news is that three out of four are mastering algebra at a proficient level.”

The ADE recently released Grade 11 Literacy Exam results which showed more students scored proficient and advanced for another annual increase in math and literacy performance. It was the fourth year in a row the achievement gap between white students and students of color continued to narrow.

Key points of improvements in the Grade 11 scores included:
• The largest percentage of proficient and advanced scores – 84% – occurred on the third grade mathematics benchmark;
• The largest increase of proficient and advanced scores – 7 percentage points – occurred on the seventh-grade mathematics benchmark, with 75% scoring at those levels in 2010;
• Three-quarters or more of students scored proficient or advanced on six of the 12 literacy and mathematics benchmark exams — third-grade math at 84%; fourth grade math at 80%, sixth grade math at 75%; seventh-grade math at 75% and eighth-grade literacy at 76%; and,
• The percentage of students scoring proficient or advanced on the Grade 11 Literacy Exam increased to 60% in 2010 from 57% in 2009.