School Officials: Pockets of Concern Even in Above-Average Test Scores

Assistant Schools Superintendent Lynn McMullin recently presented the Board of Education with detailed analysis of Connecticut Mastery and Connecticut Academic Performance test scores.

The CAPT test is administered to 10th graders each March and includes some short answers and essays in the areas of math, reading, writing and science.

The CMT is given to students in grades three to eight every Spring and also includes math, reading and writing questions and essays. In addition, fifth- and eighth-graders are given a science portion.

Overall, the town still well exceeds the state averages in both CMT and CAPT scores.

“We were well above the state averages everywhere,” McMullin said at one point. “When we’re disappointed, we’re still doing well."

And examples of the good and the disappointing areas were given to the board. In addition, McMullin and Superintendent Kevin Case were direct in their assessment of the performance of one class last year.

For the CMT’s, last year’s fourth- through eighth-graders generally came in with very high marks.

One area where students excelled, for example, was in Grade Eight math scores — with 99 percent percent of the students reaching proficiency, 91 percent at or above goal and 49 percent advanced. Last-year's fifth-graders also did well, with 96 percent proficient in math, 90 percent at goal and 50 percent advanced.

In math, grades four through eight, were all above 90 percent proficiency.

In writing, grades four to eight tested well also, with each class scoring a 93 or above in proficiency.

Reading scores showed similar numbers in grades four to eight.

Third-graders, however, did not score as well as their schoolmates.

Math scores for the grade were 88 for proficient, 71 at or above goal and 34 advanced.

In reading, those corresponding numbers were 82, 71 and 24, and in writing they were 89, 72, and 22.

Case said the third-grade numbers were simply unacceptable.

“Our students can do so much better,” he said.

McMullin said Case made similar comments at the recent teacher convocation prior to the beginning of school.

“I think it sent a really strong message,” she said.

Board of Education members also expressed disappointment that the class that needs improvement, the current fourth grade, did not get the extra teacher originally designated in the 2011-2012 budget, resulting in class sizes of 23 and 24.

Although officials acknowledged fluctuation and difference among classes, they said the district was also a little disappointed in a dip in some of the CAPT at goal and advanced scores.

In the CAPT proficiency scores were 98 in every category, virtually steady with last-year’s results.

Goal and advanced scores, however, while still well above state averages, were down from the year before.

In math, for example, at or above goal was 79, down from 86 in 2010 and the lowest since the 68 scored in 2007. The advanced score in math was 41, down from 56 the year before.

In reading, the at goal or above score was 71, down from 82 last year and again the lowest since it was 66 in 2010. The advanced score was 33, down from 56 in 2010.

McMullin said she really feels the school needs to do more to help advanced students. The more advanced students may be hearing a repeat of some material rather than being challenged, she said.

“We need to really continue focus in that area,” McMullin said. “We have to have a plan for both groups of students.”

A detailed analysis of the scores can be found at the district's home page.