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7/27/2010 12:00 AMJana Hollingsworth, Duluth News Tribune Duluth high school and fifth-grade students scored close to the state average on a Minnesota-wide test of science knowledge, but eighth-graders fell considerably below. Results of the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment II science test, which measures proficiency of students in grades five, eight and high school, were released today. This was the third year the science part of the test was given. Scores in neighboring school districts varied widely, with 47.1 percent of Wrenshall high school students proficient at one end and 73.2 percent of Esko high school students proficient at the other end. “Overall, the scores are really promising,” said Duluth’s interim assistant superintendent Bill Gronseth. “I saw quite a few increases or schools maintaining where they are. That’s exciting.” Among Duluth high school students tested, 52.9 percent were deemed proficient in science, 1 percentage point above the state average. Among Duluth fifth-graders, 44.9 percent were proficient, one-tenth of a percentage point below the state average. Among Duluth eighth-graders, 42.1 percent were proficient, compared to a statewide average of 48 percent. Unlike math and reading MCA-II test scores, the science test is not used to measure school districts’ adequate yearly progress. The scores are meant to give districts more information to improve learning in an increasingly important subject area, Minnesota Department of Education Commissioner Alice Seagren has said. Large jumps in science scores from 2008-2009 to 2009-2010 occurred at Central High School; Woodland Middle School; and Homecroft, Laura MacArthur and Stowe elementary schools. Noticeable declines were seen at Congdon Park — which is still well above the state average — and Grant elementary schools. For those that saw large increases, “we’re going to have to dig in and find out what they did and do more of it,” Gronseth said. That’s especially important for the schools that aren’t making improvements or are still lagging behind the state or district average, said Tawnyea Lake, director of assessment, evaluation and performance for the Duluth school district. “But there’s always good news to be found,” she said. “Even if you had a decrease at a school, maybe they had an increase within a subtest score.” She said school officials, including the science specialist, will use the data to determine areas needing work and at what schools. The district is in the middle of a review of its science curriculum. Seagren said the state average should be higher than 50 percent — and Duluth, too, needs to boost its students’ scores. “(Duluth) is slightly below the state average and could use some improvement,” Seagren said. She saw reason for optimism in the high school scores, however. “They might be lower in lower grades, but by high school they are achieving above the state average, so they are getting to proficiency.” Esko students scored well above the state average at all three levels: 73.2 percent proficient at the high school level, 54.3 at eighth grade and 61.3 at fifth grade. Superintendent Aaron Fischer said that after the tests came back the first year, school officials targeted areas to improve its science curriculum. “They did a marvelous job of aligning those,” Fischer said. “There is no doubt that when departments sit down together and use data and are committed to excellence, they come up with good results.” http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/174722/ | |||||||||||||||||||||
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