Published: May 09, 2009 10:12 pm      

WO-C TAKS math scores improved but still below state average

Fifth and eighth grade students in the West Orange-Cove Consolidated Independent School District made great strides in their recent performance on the math portion of the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills, but there is still room for improvement.

According to information provided by Jane Stephenson, executive director of educational services for West Orange-Cove CISD, students improved in both fifth and eighth grade compared to 2008 results.

Fifth-graders at Oates Elementary improved by eight percentage points over 2008 results of 58 percent as 66 percent met standard on the first administration of TAKS math this year. This is well below the fifth grade state average of 84 percent.

Eighth-graders at West Orange-Stark Middle School also improved this year compared to the same time in 2008 as 60 percent met standard on TAKS math this year. This represents a 23 percentage point increase over the 37 percent scored in 2008. It is already a nine percentage point improvement over the final 2008 TAKS math results, but remains 19 points below the eighth grade state average.

“We are very pleased that our fifth and eighth grade students surpassed the required standards for the ‘Acceptable’ rating on the first administration of the exam,” Stephenson said. “But we know that we can do better and are committed to the continued mastery of the assessed curriculum.”

Stephenson said the campuses are working feverishly at this time to prepare students who must take the second administration of the TAKS exam on May 19.

According to Stephenson, 59 students at Oates Elementary and 79 students at West Orange-Stark Middle School will participate in the second administration of the math TAKS exam.

“There are many strategies in place for the fifth and eighth grade students who must take the second administration of the exam,” Stephenson added. “Tutorials, both during and after school, schedule changes to allow for extra study time, and time on task are included in our preparation.

Stephenson said teachers have worked very hard this school year to increase the number of students who receive commended recognition.

“We continue to strive for academic excellence for all students even in the face of the severe adversity that our students, teachers and staff faced this year with Hurricane Ike,” she said. “We are pleased with the improvement that our students showed on the first administration of math TAKS.”

Students in third, fifth, and eighth grades are required to meet standard on their specific test subjects of the TAKS in order to move on to the next grade. Students in eleventh and twelfth grades have five opportunities to meet standard on the exit level TAKS test in order to graduate.

A campus must have at least 55 percent of its fifth or eighth grade students meet standard in math in the 2008-2009 school year to be an “Academically Acceptable” campus. To be “Recognized” a campus must have 75 percent of its students meet standard in each subject, and 90 percent must meet standard in each test subject to be considered “Exemplary.”