2010 test results: Standards up; passing rate down
Far fewer students across the state achieved proficiency on the 2010 standardized English and math tests than in past years, according to results released today by the State Education Department. Under the tougher grading standards put in place this year, only 53% of students statewide met or exceeded proficiency, scoring at a level 3 or 4, in English; 61% were proficient in math. In 2009 the statewide proficiency percentages were more than 20 points higher: 77% in English and 86% in math.
The results were grimmer for New York City students. Only 42% met or exceeded proficiency in English this year, compared to 69 % in 2009. Eighth graders performed the worst with only a 38% proficiency level.
In math, the numbers were better with 54% of the city’s students achieving proficiency, still much lower than last year’s rate of 82%.
In a statement issued late today, Chancellor Klein put a positive spin on the results, while conceding that the city has a “long way to go.”
“It will take an unprecedented effort from school officials, teachers, students, and parents; and it will take a more rigorous set of standards that require our students to do college-level work,” he said.
You can view statewide ELA and math test results by school and district here. The new grading standards, broken down by performance level, for English and math are available on the city’s Department of Education’s website. Check out citywide results here.
Early summer school release for 1807
Nearly 2000 students assigned to summer school this year based on preliminary cut scores, performed better than expected on their tests and are no longer at risk of being held back.
“All students who were mandated for summer school but, we have learned, scored above a Level 1, will receive a letter informing them that they may discontinue summer instruction,” said Department of Education spokesman Matthew Mittenthal in an email. He said that 1807 students fell into that category.
Crunching the numbers
Insideschools did its own number crunching and found that only five city schools had at least one grade achieving 100% proficiency in English: PS 122, Anderson, Icahn Charter Bronx South (Icahn 2), Nest+M, and Special Music School. Anderson, a K – 8 citywide gifted and talented school, produced the strongest results, with every grade but 8 performing at 100% proficiency (grade 8 hit 98%). Check out our full ranking by school and grade here.
In math, 21 schools had at least one grade achieving 100% proficiency. View our ranking here.
When will you find out how your child scored? According to the DOE, parents will receive their children’s scores in the second week of August.
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When and how will parents be informed of their child(ren)’s individual scores?
Comment by Magda Cruz — July 29, 2010 @ 11:11 am
Magda, in a post earlier this week we cited a Department of Education spokesperson who said that “it will take a few weeks to upload everything into ARIS Parent Link—the information should be available in early August.” In the past, schools have had some discretion on how to distribute test scores, which most years were available before the end of the school year. This year, some schools might mail the results over the summer; others may choose to distribute them the first week of school. The fastest way to find out the scores will likely be by logging on to ARIS. I’d start checking in a couple of weeks.
Comment by Laura Zingmond — July 29, 2010 @ 11:42 am
Thanks for crunching the numbers. A nice addition to the story.
Comment by Lisa — July 29, 2010 @ 2:55 pm
So with the results at a lot of schools being much worse than expected and large declines from last year’s scores: Does the DOE take back all the bonus money it gave out? Maybe to avoid this problem the DOE should pay bonuses on the percentage of students scoring 4s instead of those improving to a 2. Pulling everyone up from the top is a better way rather than just teaching to the bottom.
Comment by parent — July 29, 2010 @ 5:24 pm
I believe the results will be posted on ARIS beginnng August 16
Comment by Parent — July 29, 2010 @ 8:48 pm
I don’t think the 100% proficiency number means anything for schools like Anderson or NEST. Shouldn’t these schools have 100% level 4s?
Comment by parent — July 29, 2010 @ 9:33 pm
Why does the DOES need another *TWO WEEKS* to post the results on ARIS? Uploading this size of data on a server doesn’t even take a day (Nor would sending a message in a bottle take 2 weeks to cross the ocean).
I wonder why the DOE spent EIGHT MILLION dollars on implementing the *ridiculous* ARIS website/functionality rather than on improving quality of public schools in NYC???
This *EXTENDED* delay tells me how bad the organization skills of the DOE are and how disastrously the DOE plans.
6 months ago they would have known about the data format/structure of the results that are to be uploaded on the ARIS server if they knew how to plan/manage/organize/execute/implement.
Comment by A parent — July 29, 2010 @ 10:51 pm
I wonder how the new national curriculum standards that NYS and NYC are adopting will affect test scores? I’ve read that the English curriculum will focus on organized writing that contains a logical argument based on substantive claims, sound reasoning and relevant evidence, as opposed to the current emphasis on impressionistic writing about personal experience. Fewer “small moments” and “personal narratives” and more expository writing sounds REALLY good to me and I think that it will lead to better writers, not to mention better test scores. What do other parents think? What about Inside Schools? It would be great to see an article about that.
Comment by bkparent — July 30, 2010 @ 7:43 am
Great article in the daily news today about the test scores(page 22). Klein and bloomberg continues to fail to see that they are creating a complete mess of department of education. They will continue to manipulate the scores and the tests so they look good. Parents don not stress your kids over these ridiculous tests. I am thinking soon they will all be obsolete!!!!
Comment by tess1012 — July 30, 2010 @ 10:31 am
The only problem is that those ridiculous test are used to determine placement in various programs.
Comment by Anonymous — July 30, 2010 @ 11:58 am
What happens if your child is in summer school and does not take the ELA/Math in August?
Why should you and your child be stressed, again, about these tests, when other children who should be in summer school according to the Chancellor’s letter, will get additional help in the coming year and are enjoying their summer vacation?
Why shouldn’t they be required to take the test again?
Comment by parent sick of the DOE — July 30, 2010 @ 12:44 pm
Since they are not a true measure of a child’s ability then the programs that rely on them for placement should also be questioned.
Comment by tess1012 — July 30, 2010 @ 12:44 pm
There is no way you can measure a childs full ability with a one or two hour exam.
Comment by tess1012 — July 30, 2010 @ 12:47 pm
#13: …”There is no way you can measure a childs full ability with a one or two hour exam. “…
In your world, we should SCRAP all exams, bring back social promotion and pass everybody.
Comment by Anonymous — July 30, 2010 @ 4:48 pm
I hope all the critics of G&T programs take note. What’s disheartening is that so many qualified kids can’t get into Anderson or Nest and in many cases district programs aren’t challenging enough. DOE needs to set a standard curriculum for district programs and establish new citywide opportunities..
Comment by G&T Fan — July 31, 2010 @ 12:57 pm
#14 Obviously you must be a dear friend of Mr Klein and a product of social promotion. I didnt say we do not need any exams and just pass everybody, The assessments and exams that are given throughout the year in class should be a better measure of their ability. ONE TEST SHOULD NOT DETERMINE THE CHILDS ABILITY!!!!!
Comment by tess — August 1, 2010 @ 5:33 pm
Is there a comparison of how private schools did vs. public?
Comment by anonymous — August 2, 2010 @ 7:55 am
I’d also be curious about the comparison of traditional schools vs. progressive.
Comment by anonymous — August 2, 2010 @ 7:58 am
I agree with #16. There is NO WAY one test can fully show a student’s ability.
Comment by Anon — August 2, 2010 @ 8:54 am
the Wall Street Journal list the best test score schools http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703999304575399654097678696.html
Comment by Anonymous — August 2, 2010 @ 8:28 pm
#16, #19 ..”There is NO WAY one test can fully show a student’s ability.”.
AGREE BUT….
Exams are used to get into: GT classes in K-2,
a single exam are used to get into Hunter College HS,
sometime a single exam is used to get into some JHS GT programs
a single exam are used to get into the NYC Specialized HS,
exams are used to get into programs such as NEST and BARD HS,
SAT are required for some of the better colleges.
sometime a single exam is required to get into Grad school, law school, Med school, etc.
“ONE TEST SHOULD NOT DETERMINE THE CHILDS ABILITY”
Better get used to the SINGLE exam concept else your kid(s) can start attending schools at the higher grade level that doesn’t require exams. An audition/music/Art school maybe a better option if you feel different.
Comment by anon — August 5, 2010 @ 2:11 am
#21 –
Many of us think that a single test should not be used for any of those things as well! The same concept holds, and not just for my children, but for our society as a whole.
The gifted and talented program is a good case in point. The use of tests with no input from pre-school teachers (which we used to use in addition to a test) means that the gifted and talented program is now largely white and asian as many black and hispanic kids are not “prepped” for the test. These classes are also largely upper middle class, as richer parents can supply more test prep.
Not to mention the fact that all studies say that “one shot” tests (test that are to determine something but are given only once, even if over a few days time) are far less acurate the younger the child. As parents, we can all see why – a 4 year old can be in a completely different mood from one day to the next. If there is anything to be determined from one shot tests (which are always, at best, a snapshot of anyone taking them at only one given point in time) then they are best used with older children, as in admission to high school and college.
But even there, the tests are suspect – you’ll note that only 7 black children were admitted to Stuyvesant High School for this coming year! How could that be? Is there anyone here that does not think that there MUST have been more than 7 black children who could certainly perform well enough and deserved a place in that school???
Even the SATs are becoming less powerful as many colleges use additional information or have given up using the SATs at all.
So you see, your list may be true, but that doesn’t prove anything at all.
Comment by L — August 5, 2010 @ 12:12 pm
Anyone notice that in order to get a level 4, you are allowed only ONE error in math and ELA in most grades (look at the link to gotham)?
Imagine being 8-13 years old and after only one mistake, you’re dropped to a level 3, when I’m sure your entire academic school year, you’ve been a 4. Also, what is it with this whole scale score nonsense. Why not give percentages? Why do parents have to cipher through 600s and 700s to determine how well their child did.
Lastly, I completely agree with every parent that says the children should not have to suffer the consequences of the DOE’s mishaps. Everyone should be promoted and receive these “academic interventions” throughout the school year. But of course, due to financial crises, most schools have eliminated f-status and support personal, which means the city has no funds to provide these so called intervention services. This is a huge joke. Shaking my head at the entire education department – from the city to the state. Absolutely ridiculous!
Comment by Focusing — August 7, 2010 @ 9:17 am
# 23 What is particularly ridiculous is that the State is using the 2009 levels to mandate AIS for students. So even though by the new 2010 standards you are failing, you are not going to receive any help because according to the 2009 standards you are fine. Apparently, the State has to ensure that the school districts remain financially harmless. It must be lovely to be able to rationalize away to need to provide assistance for the most vulnerable in the society.
The officials responsible for the testing debacle get to keep their jobs; the mayor and the chancellor are not going anywhere. The losers are the children.
Comment by Anonymous — August 7, 2010 @ 10:10 am
# 22 and #24 Thank you. I agree totally.
Comment by tee — August 10, 2010 @ 11:05 am
The more I read about the Board of Education, the sadder I am for the families of our city…
Comment by Anon — August 10, 2010 @ 12:17 pm
My son took that test and didn’t pass. He passed te school year class and attended summer school at a catholic school passed with a great mark. They said he is more than ready for the ninth grade and they would love if he can attend their school in September. How can they destroy he life based on one test that the school negledted to prepare him for? This school didnt do their best. How can I fix this so he can go to his right grade? How can I tell all my children, when you work hard and do you work you”ll get promoted to the next grade? My son is torn apart about being put back in the eight grade. I had him in a catolic should he was doing great, but took him out due to finance reason. I made the wrong choice to put him in public school which I can kick myself for that.
Comment by veryupsetBronsparent — August 19, 2010 @ 9:26 am