Martinez Students Score Above State, County Averages in Math and English

Martinez Unified School District students scored higher than the state and county average in math and English, according to standardized test results released on Monday.

In the Martinez district, 3,072 students were tested. Of those, 66.8 percent scored proficient or better in English, and 62.3 percent scored proficient or higher in math.

In Contra Costa County, 61 percent scored proficient in English, while 55 percent were proficient or better in math.

Statewide, 54 percent scored proficient or better in English-language arts, and 50 percent were proficient in math.

“The significant and sustained improvements we’ve seen for nine consecutive years prove how hard teachers, school employees, administrators and parents are working to help students achieve despite budget cuts that have affected our schools,” State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson said in a statement. “Their heroic teamwork is paying off for California.”

“We are very pleased to see continued growth and progress of our STAR scores because they reflect our laser-like focus on student achievement,” said MUSD Superintendent Rami Muth. “That said, we feel that the STAR results are only one dimension that measures student achievement.  Our goal is to ensure that all students in Martinez are college and career ready and that we have prepared them with the 21st century skills needed to be successful in a global economy.  We continue to strive to meet the diverse needs of all of our students and the STAR results provide us with positive feedback indicating that we are making steady progress.”

Students in second through 11^th grades are tested in several subjects and ranked by the following levels: far below basic, below basic, basic, proficient or advanced.

In the Mount Diablo district (which includes students from Martinez, Concord, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill and Clayton), 56 percent of the ninth graders were proficient and advanced in English-language arts; 49 percent for 10th graders; and 49 percent for 11th graders.

In California Standard Tests for Mathematics, 75 percent of fifth graders were proficient and advanced; 50 percent of sixth graders; and 48 percent of seventh graders.

Here are the scores for the individual schools. Click on the link to go to the actual test results.

• At Alhambra High, 983 students were tested. Of those, 64.3 percent scored proficient or better in English, 59.7 percent in History, 50.7 percent in math, and 59.9 percent in Science.
• At College Park High, a total of 1,447 students were tested. Of those, 60.6 percent scored proficient or better in English, 54.6 percent in History, 36 percent in math, and 58.1 percent in Science.
• At Martinez Jr. High, a total of 868 students were tested. Of those, 70.1 percent scored proficient or better in English, 59.1 percent in History, 61.4 percent in math, and 76.6 percent in Science.
• At Valley View Middle School, a total of 737 students were tested. Of those, 68.4 percent scored proficient or above in English, 55.2 percent in History, 52.9 percent in math, and 66.7 percent in Science.
• At John Swett Elementary, a total of 262 students were tested. Of those, 77.1 percent scored proficient or above in English, 82.7 percent in math, and 76 percent in Science.
• At Las Juntas Elementary, a total of 233 students were tested. Of those, 63.9 percent scored proficient or better in English, 68.9 percent in math, and 85 percent in Science.
• At Morello Park Elementary, a total of 350 students were tested. Of those, 82.2 percent scored proficient or above in English, 83.6 percent in math, and 69.1 percent in Science.
• At John Muir Elementary, a total of 244 students were tested. Of those, 58.3 percent scored proficient or better in English, 69.5 percent in math, and 72.7 percent in Science.
• At Hidden Valley Elementary, a total of 488 students were tested. Of those, 70.5 percent scored proficient or above in English, 81.3 percent in math, and 65 percent in Science.