Standardized Test Scores Improve in Union City, State

East Bay students scored higher than the state average in English and math, according to just-released standardized test results.

Some 4.7 million students took the 2011 Standardized Testing and Reporting assessment known as STAR. Fifty-four percent of them scored proficient or better in English-language arts and 50 percent were proficient or better in math, according to the California Department of Education.

In the New Haven Unified School District, where approximately 9,700 students took the exams, 55.2 percent scored at grade level or higher in English/language arts and 45.5 percent in match.

Of those in New Haven, 25.1 percent posted advanced scores in English/language arts, up about three percent from the 2008-2009 school year. During the same period, the percentage of students scoring “far below basic” dropped from 7.2 to 6.3 percent.

“These scores demonstrate progress at both ends of the spectrum, even with all of the problems that have been forced upon us as our budget shrinks because of the state financial crisis,” said Superintendent Kari McVeigh in a press release Monday. “Our students, their parents and our teachers and support staff deserve a tremendous amount of credit for their hard work and perseverance.”

The district continued to show progress at the elementary level, with 23.1 percent of students at scoring advanced in English/language arts and the percentage of students performing “far below basic” dropping from 11.4 to 7.8 percent. At , 26.9 also scored advanced, while “far below basic” scors dropped from 11.7 to 9.6 percent.

“Year after year, our concentrated focus on literacy is resulting in steady improvement,” McVeigh said. “It’s incremental, but it’s consistent, which I think is indicative of the fact we’re doing the right work.”

While there was progress in English/language arts, district-wide scores for math dropped slightly from 47 to 45 percent. However, the drop was anticipated, said Director of Assessment and Evaluation Craig Boyan said in a press release. The district increased enrollment for advanced math courses at the secondary level, allowing more students to take algebra and geometry instead of general math, Boyan explained.

According to Boyan, twice as many eighth grade students took algebra than in the previous year.

“Advancing these students to higher levels of math may initially result in some lower scores in the general math courses, which should improve as adjustments are made in future years,” Boyan said.

Around the Bay

In Contra Costa County, where 128,000 students were tested, 61 percent scored at least proficient in English and 55 percent proficient or better in math. Alameda County scores were nearly the same: 60 percent were proficient or better in language and 55 percent in math among the 162,410 tested.

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

Both state and East Bay scores are the highest since the program launched in 2003. That first year, just 35 percent of California students ranked proficient in math and English.

“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.”

Though overall test scores increased, an achievement gap remains.

Throughout the state, black and Latino students continue to lag behind their white and Asian peers. Students from poor families and those for whom English is a second language also struggle to keep up, numbers show.

STAR scores are used to come up with schools' Academic Performance Index and Adequate Yearly Progress report. Dropout and exit exam rates also factor into the API and AYP assessments.

The New Haven Unified School District clocked a dropout rate of 16.4 percent. That's compared to a statewide rate of 18.2 percent.

Dropout rates were released Friday; those for the California High School Exit Exam are due out next week and the AYP and API scores will be released on Aug. 31.

New Haven Unified School District at a glance

• 55.2 percent tested at grade level or higher in English; 45.5 percent in math;
• 9,705 students took the test;
• Click this link for James Logan High School scores.