InsideEd: After MSA disappointment, city students also backslide on national test - Education news and issues in Baltimore that affect students and teachers, from kindergarten to college

The performance of Baltimore city's first-and-second grade students took a dip on national standardized assessments, according to results of the Stanford 10 exam released by the city school system late last week.

The test, which shows how the city's youngest students perform compared to a sample population of student from across the country, is the second data set indicating a stall in achievement for city students this year. The school system also noted a decline in scores on the Maryland School Assessments in nearly every grade (3-8) in reading and math. In science, the city's scores also dropped, which you can read more about here.

Of the latest set of scores, city schools CEO Andres Alonso said that it reinforced "a call to action," in reforming instruction and curriculum in city classrooms. He also reinforced a message he honed in on during the MSA disappointment, in emphasizing progress students have made over time. You can read more in our story here.

Unlike the MSA's, the school system chooses to participate in the Stanford 10 to chart the progress of its primary students but it is not counted toward the standards under the federal No Child Left Behind Act. Still, the city has celebrated students' progress on the Stanford's, which has continually increased up until this year.

In first-grade reading, the number of students passing dropped from the 51st percentile to the 55th percentile last year on the Stanford 10, and in second-grade reading, the drop was from the 51st percentile to the 47th percentile. In math, the percentile rank fell to 61 from 67; passing second-grade scores dropped to the 56th percentile from the 61st.

In all cases, the scores are better than in 2007 and 2004, when the test was first given. The scores then ranged between the 36th and 40th percentile rank.

Comments

Based on the data in their chart, kids were making more progress on this test before Alonso showed up than after.

Reading grade 1
2004-2007: 9 points, average 3 per year
2007-2011: 4 points, average 1 per year

Reading grade 2
2004-2007: 7 points, average 2.33 per year
2007-2011: 4 points, average 1 per year

Math grade 1
2004-2007: 10 points, average 3.33 per year
2007-2011: 7 points, average 1.75 per year

Math grade 2
2004-2007: 7 points, average 2.33 per year
2007-2011: 9 points, average 2.25 per year

Posted by: Anonymous | August 2, 2011 9:40 PM

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Posted by: Best B Schools in india | August 10, 2011 4:39 AM

@ SAT 10 disappointment, city students also lose ground on 1st-2nd grade national test outcome

Fact base line evidence the city school students are guaranteed to lose shown by the authentic national Stanford 10 (SAT 10) test data chart in the earlier posted by Anonymous. BCPSSB is particularly vulnerable much more than other school districts, our primary school 1st-2nd grade students were making more progress before Alonso showed up than after. "The more education strength that BCPSS loses, the more likely it is things will be done to it instead of for it." Those who are unaware this test identifies the individual student test taker actual content area strengths, weaknesses in math, reading, and comprehension. Not the case in comparisons with 3rd-12th grade MSA/HSA state test results. The current CEO/CAO and school board commissioners teaching and learning committee Jerrelle Francois-Vice-Chair, have ignored public comment testimony at the public school board meeting to host parent SAT 10, MSA/HSA work sessions for better parent’s awareness to help our students increase test scores.

Posted by: Interested & Engaged Parent of City Schools | August 12, 2011 1:04 PM

Thank You Erica Green for visiting my school on February 9, 2012. You are an amazing writer/reporter and I am honored to have met you.

Posted by: Paige Augusta Fells Savage | February 10, 2012 12:07 PM