Barrington students perform well at science, math; room for improvement seen in language arts

New Jersey’s 2012 Assessment of Skills and Knowledge (ASK) testing for Barrington schools shows Avon and Woodland students performing well in math and science, but lagging behind state averages in language arts.

The percentage of Barrington’s general education students scoring proficient or advanced proficient in language arts was below the state average in third, fifth, sixth and seventh grades. The percentage for math was below the state average only in third grade. In science, the schools’ results were above the state average.

Language arts and math tests are taken in grades three through eight; science tests are taken in grades four and eight.

Performance level descriptions

District Superintendent Anthony Arcodia warned against placing too much emphasis on the test results.

“The debate as to validity of high-stake standardized testing will go on forever,” Arcodia said in an email to the Bulletin. “I believe if the data obtained from these test is used effectively and for the right purpose, they can help in improving instruction and the education of our students.”

The most important role of the tests is to serve as a guide for teachers and parents, he said.

“Standardized testing can play a part in measuring a school or district’s success, however it should not be the sole indicator in determining students’ ability or success,” Arcodia said.

Coming soon: Expanded Arcodia response to the testing

Complete results for 2012 NJASK testing of general education students, grades 3-8. (First number is percentage of Barrington School District general education students who scored at that level in that test; second number is percentage of general education students in the entire state who scored at that level in that test.)

NJASK3

Language arts

Avon (state average)

–          Partially Proficient: 32.8% at Avon (26.3% statewide)

–          Proficient: 67.2 (69.0)

–          Advanced Proficient: 0 (4.7)

Math

–          Partially Proficient: 20.9 (16.4)

–          Proficient: 34.3 (36.9)

–          Advanced Proficient: 44.8 (46.7)

NJASK4

Language arts

–          Partially Proficient: 31.4 (32.8)

–          Proficient: 60 (57.1)

–          Advanced Proficient: 8.6 (10.0)

Math

–          Partially Proficient: 14.3 (16.3)

–          Proficient: 51.4 (44.8)

–          Advanced Proficient: 34.3 (38.8)

Science

–          Partially Proficient: 0.0 (7.0)

–          Proficient: 51.4 (43.9)

–          Advanced Proficient: 48.6 (49.1)

NJASK5

Language arts

Woodland percentage (state average)

–          Partially Proficient: 37.7% at Woodland (31.2% statewide)

–          Proficient: 55.7 (58.5)

–          Advanced Proficient: 6.6 (10.3)

Math

–          Partially Proficient: 8.2 (13.6)

–          Proficient: 52.5 (37.6)

–          Advanced Proficient: 39.3 (48.9)

NJASK6

Language arts

–          Partially Proficient: 27.3 (25.1)

–          Proficient: 72.7 (69.3)

–          Advanced Proficient: 0.0 (5.6)

Math

–          Partially Proficient: 7.3 (13.6)

–          Proficient: 56.4 (50.4)

–          Advanced Proficient: 36.4 (36.1)

NJASK7

Language arts

–          Partially Proficient: 29.8 (26.1)

–          Proficient: 68.1 (58.7)

–          Advanced Proficient: 2.1 (15.2)

Math

–          Partially Proficient: 14.9 (28.2)

–          Proficient: 66.0 (42.0)

–          Advanced Proficient: 19.1 (29.8)

NJASK8

Language arts

–          Partially Proficient: 7.7 (10.1)

–          Proficient: 92.3 (76.3)

–          Advanced Proficient: 0.0 (13.6)

Math

–          Partially Proficient: 17.3 (22.0)

–          Proficient: 36.5 (41.2)

–          Advanced Proficient: 46.2 (36.8)

Science

–          Partially Proficient: 7.7 (13.4)

–          Proficient: 67.3 (48.6)

–          Advanced Proficient: 25.0 (38.0)

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The author of the Barrington Bulletin, Mark Correa, is also a member of the Barrington School District Board of Education as of Jan. 6, 2013. Please be aware that I do not speak for the board in any way. The thoughts, views and opinions contained within the posts on this site are mine and mine alone. And the comments after any given posts are the thoughts, views and opinions of the author of the comment.

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