Student test scores show Madison lags state in cutting achievement gap

Matthew DeFour:

Madison and Wisconsin are moving in opposite directions in raising achievement levels of black students, according to state test scores released Tuesday by the Department of Public Instruction.

The percentage of black Madison students scoring proficient or better on the state reading test dropped to the lowest level in six years, while statewide black student reading scores continued to improve.

"The results affirm the work that we need to be doing and are doing to close our unacceptable gaps in achievement," Madison Superintendent Dan Nerad said.

Overall student performance improved in math and dipped slightly in reading across Wisconsin compared with last year, while in Madison scores declined in all tested subjects.

Madison's strongest gains were among eighth grade math scores, with the percentage of black students scoring proficient gaining 8 percentage points, Hispanic students gaining 16 percentage points and low-income students gaining 6.5 percentage points over last year.

Overall 77 percent of eighth-graders scored advanced or proficient on math, up from 76 percent last year. In all other grade levels the math scores were down in Madison from last year, whereas statewide the scores were up or the same in each grade level.

• Wisconsin, Mississippi Have "Easy State K-12 Exams" - NY Times
• The Death of WKCE? Task Force to Develop "Comprehensive Assessment System for Wisconsin"
• Schools should not rely on only WKCE data to gauge progress of individual students or to determine effectiveness of programs or curriculum"
• Superintendent Dan Nerad's achievement gap plan.
• 60% to 42%: Madison School District's Reading Recovery Effectiveness Lags "National Average": Administration seeks to continue its use

Posted by Jim Zellmer at March 28, 2012 4:06 AM
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