Local school districts highlight some gains

Here’s what newly released state test scores say about academic progress in some South Sound school districts, according to school officials.

TACOMA

Tacoma students followed state up-and-down trends in most categories, with some exceptions. Tacoma students – who register some of the highest poverty rates among school districts in Western Washington – lag state scores in all categories.

But Tacoma kids are showing some improvement over time, said Patrick Cummings, district director of research and evaluation.

“In high school reading, we’ve done a good job closing the gap,” he said. He pointed out that in 2006, 10th-graders in Tacoma were 18 points behind state average results. This year, the gap narrowed to 4.3 points. While state scores in that category gained little over the years, Tacoma scores rose more than 14 points.

Tacoma high school students showed similar progress in writing.

In third-grade math, state scores dropped a fraction from last year, while Tacoma scores – though still behind the state – gained a little over 4 points.

Fifth-grade reading scores dropped statewide and even more in Tacoma, compared with last year. Cummings said he’s not sure why.

Some of the biggest gains in Tacoma, as they were elsewhere, were in fifth-grade science, where students posted scores more than 20 points over last year’s.

Debbie Cafazzo, staff writer

PUYALLUP

Puyallup School District made gains across the board, especially in math and science. One of the biggest jumps was in sixth-grade math; 71.5 percent of students passed the test in the spring – a jump of more than 11 percentage points.

Fifth-grade scores doubled that percentage-point increase, rising from 42.2 percent passing in 2010 to 63.8 percent in 2011.

“We’ve seen a big emphasis at the national level, as well as the state level, to get students ready all along the way for careers in these areas,” said Nancy Arnold, director of assessments and accountability. “We feel like we’re on track.”

Sara Schilling, staff writer

BETHEL

Bethel students posted gains over last year in most categories, with math scores in elementary grades among the most dramatic increases. Elementary and junior high science scores also rose significantly.

“We have been working to develop grade-level teacher leaders in both math and science, and giving teachers time to work as a team with those grade leaders,” said Brian Loffer, director of assessment in the Spanaway-based district.

He said new state standards have also provided teachers more clarity. Elementary science standards, for example, have allowed districts to better align curriculum with the standards measured by state tests.

“In general, it shows that when a target is clear, teachers and the district can focus our efforts,” he said.

Debbie Cafazzo, staff writer

CLOVER PARK

Like many districts with high poverty rates, Clover Park continued to lag statewide averages. But Deputy Superintendent Keith Rittel noted there’s been gradual improvement.

Scores that were well below the statewide numbers several years ago are inching up, he said. The Lakewood district came closest to meeting the statewide mark this year in fourth-grade math and 10th-grade reading and writing.

“We’re starting to catch up. We’re closing the gap here,” Rittel said.

“We’re pleased about that.”

He said the district made significant gains in most elementary grades in reading, math and science, but the results from the secondary levels were mixed.

About two-thirds of Clover Park students received free or discounted lunches last year – a widely used indicator of student poverty.

He noted the district also is pleased that the same number of schools met the federal Annual Yearly Progress standard when compared with last year. The district was able to hold ground despite AYP requirements becoming tougher, Rittel said.

Christian Hill, Staff writer

UNIVERSITY PLACE

The district earned strong marks across the board, and Superintendent Patti Banks was exuberant about intermediate-level math scores.

Teachers have focused on math at grades five through seven to counter the “significant drop” seen in test scores at the state and national levels as students advance from basic arithmetic toward algebra, she said.

The district’s initiative has reversed that trend, Banks said. Students in those grades significantly outperformed the statewide average in math. Math scores for low-income students in those grades were nearly the same as for students from wealthier homes statewide, Banks said.

“These scores really demonstrate that demographics are not destiny, and with hard work, students can achieve,” she said.

Eighth-grade math scores were lower than the prior year. Banks called the result an anomaly, noting that scores in algebra and geometry outperformed the state average.

Banks pointed out that the strong gains occurred during tight budget times.

“This just proves when teachers focus their energies and work as hard as our teachers have, you can make a difference for students no matter what the environment,” she said.

Christian Hill, Staff writer