 |
| About Us Menu |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Main > About Us > Media Releases
Media Releases: May 16, 2003
During the sixth year of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT),
St. Johns County students continued to score well above the state average
at every level.
The FCAT is divided into two parts: the Sunshine State Standards (SSS), which
are required skills for graduation, and the Norm-Referenced Test (NRT), which
compares St. Johns County students with other students across the nation. On
the SSS St. Johns County students improved in reading and math at all grade
levels, and on the NRT St. Johns County scores were up in all grades except
for tenth grade reading.
While high school test scores dropped across the state, average tenth grade
reading scores in St. Johns County were the highest in the state on both the
SSS and the NRT, and average tenth grade math scores were the second highest
in the state on the SSS and tied for the highest in the state on the NRT.
The biggest increases in St. Johns County were seen at the fourth, seventh,
eighth and ninth grade levels. Grade 7 showed the greatest improvement with
math scores increasing by 11 points and reading scores by 10 points over last
year’s scores. In Grade 8 reading scores improved by 13 points and math
scores by 6 points. Grade 4 scores increased 10 points in reading and seven
points in math. Grade 9 reading and math scores both increased by eight points.
“To achieve this level of success six years in a row is a definite tribute
to the hard work done by all of our teachers and the excellent preparation they
provided our students,” said Superintendent Hugh Balboni.
For the second year student scores reflect Learning Gains, which show an estimate
of a student’s progress from 2002 to 2003. Individual Learning Gains
are based on a comparison of Achievement Level scores from year to year.
“Since these initial scores compare this year’s students to a different
group of students from last year, the results are more an indication of program
than individual student success,” explained Bob Allten, Director of Planning
and Accountability. “We are now trying to determine individual learning
gains which will compare the same group of students from last year to this year.”
Grade level results on the SSS comparing St. Johns County to other districts
in the state are as follows:
Grade 10 – Highest in reading and
second highest in math
Grade 9 – Second highest in reading and fourth highest in math
Grade 8 – Third highest in reading and eighth highest in math
Grade 7 – Second highest in reading and third highest in math
Grade 6 – Third highest in reading and third highest in math
Grade 5 – Eighth highest in reading and eighth highest in math
Grade 4 – Third highest in reading and fourth highest in math
Grade 3 – Third highest in reading and ninth highest in math
Grade level results on the NRT comparing St. Johns County to other districts
in the state are as follows:
Grade 10 – Highest in reading and highest in math
Grade 9 – Second highest in reading and third highest in math
Grade 8 – Fourth highest in reading and fifth highest in math
Grade 7 – Second highest in reading and third highest in math
Grade 6 – Third highest in reading and fifth highest in math
Grade 5 – Sixth highest in reading and ninth highest in math
Grade 4 – Fifth highest in reading and third highest in math
Grade 3 – Fourth highest in reading and eighth highest in math
This is the first year that science was
included on the FCAT, and this subject test was given to
students in grades 5, 8 and 10. St. Johns County tenth
graders made the highest score in the state, eighth graders
scored third in the state and fifth graders were fifth
in the state.
The FCAT, which judges reading and math skills, was given in February and March
to students in grades three through ten throughout the state. Possible scores
ranged from 100 to a high of 500, with Achievement Levels ranging from one
to five. The test is part of a statewide effort to increase student performance
and hold schools more accountable. The FCAT is designed to measure how students
achieve on the Sunshine State Standards and the Norm-Referenced Test and is
one of the elements used to determine school grades.
St. Johns County Schools scored above the
sixty-seventh percentile in all areas for first and second
grades, according to recent results of the 2003 Stanford
Achievement Test (SAT). The School District administered
the SAT only to first and second graders again this year
since they were not part of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment
Test (FCAT).
On a national comparison level Grade 1 and
Grade 2 scores increased in every category. The biggest
gains were seen in Grade 1 Language, which increased from
the 69th to the 75th percentile, and Grade 1 Reading, which
moved from the 72nd to the 77th percentile. Grade 1 Math
scores increased from the 76th to the 77th percentile.
Grade 2 scores also showed gains in all areas tested. Language scores increased
from the 67th to the 69th percentile, math scores increased from the 73rd to
the 75th percentile, and reading scores increased from the 70th to the 71st
percentile.
ÒThese test scores are very positive and a reflection on the new reading series
we adopted last year,Ó said Superintendent Hugh Balboni. ÒAs we continue to address
individual learners, our scores should continue to increase.Ó
The Stanford Achievement Tests were given in April to test knowledge in three
areas: reading, mathematics and language. Individual student results will be
distributed to parents before the end of school. This is the seventh year that
St. Johns County Schools have used the Ninth Edition of the Stanford test.
| 
|
|
