Martinez Students Score Well Above Average On State Tests

For the most part, Martinez Unified School District students scored well above the statewide averages in the Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) test results released Thursday by the California State Superintendent of Schools office.

Overall, the 2013 STAR scores decreased slightly statewide from the 2012 results.

Across California, 56.4 percent of students scored proficient or above in the English language arts section. That was 0.8 percent lower than a year ago.

In math, 51.2 percent of students scored proficient or above, a decrease of 0.3 percent.

In science, 59.1 percent of students were proficient or above, down 0.4 percent. In history and social sciences, 49.4 percent scored proficient or above, up 0.6 percent.

Superintendent Tom Torlakson said the results were satisfying given the budget cuts and other problems schools faced this past year.

“As you would expect for a school system in transition, results varied from grade to grade, subject to subject, and school to school, but the big picture is one of remarkable resilience despite the challenges,” Torlakson said. “While we all want to see California’s progress continue, these results show that in the midst of change and uncertainty, teachers and schools kept their focus on students and learning. That’s a testament to the depth of their commitment to their students and the future of our state.”

In the Martinez school district, the results were divided up by grade level.

In English language arts, all but one grade was above the 56 percent statewide average. The one below was 11th grade with 52 percent at proficient or above.

The other grades were all above 60 percent, the highest being the 4th graders with 77 percent and the 9th graders with 75 percent.

In mathematics, all the grades were well above the state average of 51 percent with the highest being the 3rd graders with 83 percent and the 4th graders with 79 percent.

The 8th through 12th grade scores were separated by subject matter such as algebra I, algebra II and geometry.

The history, social science and science scores are also divided up by subject matter.

This year's Martinez Unified scores were slightly below the 2012 scores at most grade levels.

Martinez Superintendent Rami Muth said the decline was mainly due to the fact the district is preparing for the new set of state tests called the Common Core State Standards. Teachers were therefore focuses more on the new tests than the current exams.

"While this decline is not entirely unexpected it can convey the wrong impression about the forward progress of our schools," said Muth. "We will continue to carefully disaggregate our test scores to ensure that all of our students are learning the essential skills and content needed for long term success."