Fayette | News

40% of Fayette student retesters flunk CRCT

Tue, 09/26/2006 - 3:47pm
By: John Thompson

Nearly 200 Fayette County students may be repeating grades this fall after a second try at passing the Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests (CRCT).

The results came back in late July, according to school spokesperson Melinda Berry-Dreisbach. After parents received the results, she said they had time to meet with a committee to determine if the student should advance to the next grade.

During the 2005-2006 school year, 432 Fayette students failed portions of the test and had a chance to retest during this past summer. Nearly 43 percent, or 184 students, failed the retest.

The largest group that failed were students taking the retest in eighth grade math.

Taking the test again were 131 students; 62 of that number failed. Flat Rock Middle had 17 students fail the test, while Whitewater had 15 students with failing marks.

At the elementary school level, 105 of the 259 students failed the retest.

The largest number of students failing was at the third grade reading level at Fayetteville Intermediate on Hood Avenue, where 13 of 20 students posted failing scores. Kedron had five students taking third grade reading, fifth grade reading and fifth grade math, and all students passed the test.

Students took the original tests last spring and were tested on one subject each day.

The CRCT tests are given to all students in first through eighth grades. In order to advance to the next grade, third grade students must pass the reading portion of the test, while fifth and eighth grade students must pass the reading and math portions.

According to the Department of Education’s Web site, the CRCT measures how well a student has learned the knowledge and skills in the state curriculum.

The purpose of the tests is to ensure students are learning and provide data to teachers, schools, and school districts to make better instructional decisions.

The tests also serve as an accountability measure and are part of the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind law.

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CRCT reveals interesting perspective
Submitted by PTCMomma on Wed, 09/27/2006 - 8:35am.

My kids went to both Oak Grove and Braelinn at different times. I always thought Oak Grove was the better of the two schools as they did a better job of focusing on the whole child (yes, this is important as they have our children for the majority of the waking day), including the parents in most aspects of the school culture, and is far more multi-cultural. I noticed on the re-testing that Braelinn and Oak Grove faired similarily, each doing better in different areas yet Braelinn is always the one touted in public as being so much better. Congrats to Oak Grove on the major improvements made this past year on test scores. The students, teachers and parents all worked hard to get there. To any intelligent person, test scores aren't the only things that matter but it is to the coveted public perception!!!

Mom to 3, plus a few strays

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Oak Grove is outstanding
Submitted by melissafred on Wed, 09/27/2006 - 11:44am.

I couldn't agree more, PTCMomma. I've had 3 children at Oak Grove; 2 of whom are currently there. I've also taught at 2 other fine schools within the county. My children run the gamut from borderline gifted to special ed, so I feel that I've seen Oak Grove from pretty much every angle as far as student services. Other schools may be considered higher on many people's list of most desirable Fayette County schools. However, if you gave me $10 million and said to build anywhere in Fayette County that I wanted, our family would stay in Oak Grove's district. There is an incredible feeling of love, compassion and comittment to helping each and every student reach their full potential at Oak Grove. Even if a teacher or staff member doesn't work directly with a child, they often know the child's name. The parents are treated as valuable members of the Oak Grove team and encouraged to participate whenever possible.

To Mrs. Hancock and every single staff member at Oak Grove, thank you for a truly wonderful school!

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I agree there is a problem
Submitted by gonetoal on Tue, 09/26/2006 - 9:46pm.

My kid was in teen depression, on meds, seeing a shrink and still passed. Why are some kids passing while sleepwalking, and others trying and failing? My thoughts are we are not giving our kids the help they need at home. Some can't. We have to figure out a way to help them all. One thing I have noticed at Flatt Rock, the teachers are burned out. It is not their fault. They have a lot to put up with, so do the kids. One big problem is that they need more control in the classrooms. You have disruptive kids there, that should be sent home, other kids that have a short attention span, are trying to learn. but are distracted by these students, are the real victims. Untill you get control of the classroom and send these kids home, the other slow learners, don't have a chance.

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I would like to add
Submitted by gonetoal on Tue, 09/26/2006 - 9:49pm.

Kid who are slow learners, are not dumb, they just need more attention and less distraction sometimes. To give in to the kids that don't want to learn and try to get attention in class, is wrong. Send these kids home and help the ones that want to learn and have a hard time.

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