Benchmark tests show statewide gains

Eighth-grade students in the Fort Smith Public School system scored below the state average on the math and literacy segments of the 2011 Arkansas Augmented Benchmark Exams.

Exam results, released Tuesday (July 19) by the Arkansas Department of Education, provide scores for all Arkansas school districts for grades 3 through 8. The results show  increases in the percentage of students scoring either proficient or advanced in math and literacy for most grades. Proficient and advanced percentages declined in literacy scores for Arkansas 6th graders, math for 7th graders, literacy for 7th graders, and was unchanged in math for 8th graders.

However, all scores in all grades were well above those recorded in 2005.

“Our increased use of data for decision making at the classroom and administrative levels is paying off,” Dr. Tom Kimbrell, Commissioner of Education said in the statement. “We did well this year as we continue to build upon the success of data-based decision making implemented over the past few years. But, we have a long way to go, and we’re ready to take all of our students to the next level.”

Dr. Gayle Potter, director of assessment, attributed improved test scores to the state’s “emphasis on professional development of teachers and a “strict standards-based” education system.

"Is that progress? Yes," Kimbrell said. "Is that victory? Don’t think so. We will continue to support Arkansas educators and best practices to multiply the gains we applaud today.”

Barry Owen, assistant superintendent for instructional services with the Fort Smith Public Schools, said overall the test results show improvements.

“We showed significant gains at certain grade spans, while at other grades growth was stagnant when compared to last year and in a couple instances decreased slightly. The largest growth occurred in grades 3-5 in math and in literacy,” Owen said. “Grade 5 science had double digit growth increasing by 12% the number of students scoring proficient and advanced.”

Owen said the district will soon begin programs “designed to evaluate student performance data” for the purposes of improving teaching and learning.

The math mean score statewide for 8th grade students was 731, and 797 in literacy. Following are how 8th grade students in some of the larger public schools in the Fort Smith region compared to the statewide average. Of the selected schools listed below, Charleston 8th grade students had the highest mean scores in math and literacy.

Arkansas
Math: 731
Literacy: 797

Alma
Math: 732
Literacy: 815

Charleston
Math: 778
Literacy: 853

Fort Smith
Math: 724
Literacy: 790

Greenwood
Math: 769
Literacy: 848

Lavaca
Math: 753
Literacy: 807

Mansfield
Math: 729
Literacy: 790

Ozark
Math: 749
Literacy: 823

Paris
Math: 762
Literacy: 801

Van Buren
Math: 723
Literacy: 806

Waldron
Math: 703
Literacy: 765

Link here for access to all scores in all grades tested.