Wednesday, September 27, 2000
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Wednesday, September 27, 2000 |
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PTC schools set pace in state reading tests By PAT NEWMAN
The results of the first-ever Georgia Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests are in, and almost all Fayette County schools have met or exceeded the state standards in reading, English/language arts and math. The test was administered to students in grades four, six and eight last spring to measure how well they were learning and how well teachers are teaching the subject matter contained in Georgia's quality core curriculum, which was revised in 1997. It is part of Gov. Roy Barnes' plan for school reform. Based on the initial reports, Dr. John DeCotis, Fayette County school superintendent, said he was pleased to see the school system's high scores compared to the state averages. DeCotis also took note of the differences in scores between the system's elementary and middle schools, citing the equity achieved at the middle school level. "We continue to make progress every year," he said. Based on the test numbers, the county's elementary school students are weakest in math and strongest in reading. With more than half their students outperforming state averages, four schools in or near Peachtree City teach the county's top readers: Kedron (62 percent), Braelinn and Peeples (55 percent) and Huddleston (54 percent). Weakest in reading are North Fayette (30 percent falling below state standards), Tyrone (26 percent), and East Fayette and Fayette Intermediate (each 24 percent). In math, Huddleston is the county leader with 41 percent of its students exceeding state standards, followed by Kedron (36 percent) and Braelinn and Peeples (each 31 percent). Weakest on the math charts are North Fayette (31 percent falling beneath state standards), Fayette Intermediate (25 percent), Brooks and Burch (each 24 percent). Among middle schools, Rising Starr outshines other sixth grades with 67 percent of its students besting state reading standards, followed by Booth at 58 percent. Bringing up the rear in sixth grade reading are Flat Rock (20 percent of its students missing the state standard mark) and Whitewater (14 percent). In math, Rising Starr leads at 48 percent besting state standards in the sixth grade. Flat Rock trails in this category also, with 23 percent of its students missing the state average. The picture brightens in the eighth grade, with all middle schools having more than half their students outperforming state standards in reading. Schools scoring on the lower end of the scale will be assisted by a School Improvement Team, which will make recommendations to the faculty and administration on how they can improve, according to DeCotis. In order to optimize objectivity, DeCotis said advisors from outside the system will visit the school and meet with the teachers and administrator to assess their needs. The CRCT will be administered again in spring 2001 to fourth, sixth and eighth graders in the same subject areas. Eventually, the range of testing will be expanded to include all elementary school grades and additional subjects. High school students will be required to take end-of-course tests. DeCotis said individual student results are forthcoming and will be sent home to parents when they are made available. The assessments will indicate whether a student has failed to meet, met, or exceeded the state standards. Larry Reeves, director of pupil services for Fayette County Schools, explained how the results of the test were tabulated. Basically, a school is rated in three areas; what percentage of their students failed to meet the standard scale range of 150-299 (Level 1), the percentage of students who met the standard score range of 300-349 (Level 2), and the percentage of students who exceeded the standard scale score range of 350-450. The scale score equals the number of correct answers on a test that are converted to a scale score with a range of 150-450 for that test.
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