RVC Schools Get Passing Grade

The Rockville Centre School District is in "good standing" in terms of English Language Arts, math, science and its graduation rate, according to a district report card released last week by the New York State Department of Education. 

Rockville Centre high school students scored exceptionally well in English and math, with 97 and 98 percent scoring in Level 3, respectively. That's about 20 percentage points higher than the state average.

Passing rates in English and math dropped last year in grades 3-8 due in large part to how the state scores exams. The State Board of Regents adopted scoring changes to the exams last July, which require students to answer several more questions correctly to receive a Level 3 score — considered a state benchmark to identify students who are meeting learning standards. The students had taken the tests two months prior to the decision.

Though some grades levels did not see a significant drop off in Level 3 scorers from the 2008-09 school year to 2009-10 — Grade 4 nearly stayed the same —others saw significant declines. Level 3 scorers on the ELA exam in grades 3 and 7 both fell by 17 percentage points, while Level 3 scorers on the math exam in grades 6 and 8 fell by 15 and 18 percentage points, respectively.

Passing rates on the exams were down statewide with only 53 percent of students – compared to 77 percent in 2009 – reaching the proficiency level on the English exams. On the math side, it was more of the same, with the state passing rate slashed from 86 percent to 61 percent over the last year.

Other Notable Statistics

• Ninety-nine percent of all RVC high school students in 2009-10 graduated with a Regents diploma, while 91 percent also earned a Regents diploma with advanced designation. Two students dropped out.
• Nearly 80 percent of all students continued on from high school to a four-year college.
• Enrollment in K-12 stayed the same from the 2008-09 school year to 2009-10 at 3,545 enrolled students.

View the full report card here.