Test Scores

Each year the students in our district take the Oregon Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (OAKS) tests. The data is reported for each grade level by district and individual school. "Passing" the test means that the student met or exceed the state benchmark, i.e., the standard set by the state that defines what the student should know by that point in their education. The data I have used for this analysis can be accessed on-line at the Oregon Department of Education website.

The first two charts show the percentage of students by grade level in the Central Schools who met or exceeded the state standard in 2005-2006, the year the current superintendent assumed the leadership of our district, and 2008-2009, the last year for which data is available. For both Reading and Math, the percentage of students passing the test declined in every grade level tested with the exception of 10th graders. (Note: You can click on each image to enlarge it for easier reading.)

The next two charts show the percentages meeting or exceeding the standard for all four years. Given the variability from one year to the next, it will be interesting to see how this year's data (2009-2010) will stack up. The general trend over the fours years, however, has clearly been a downward one.

The Oregon Department of Education tinkers with the test from time to time which may make year to year comparisons difficult even when the "cut scores" (the scores needed to meet the standard) remain the same. To compensate for that potential problem, I also calculated Central's passing rate as a percentage of the state average. I wanted to know what percentage of Central's students met or exceeded the standard compared to other Oregon students in the same grade level. This is one way of assessing whether our students, and by extension our schools, are doing better or worse than average. In these calculations the state average became the standard against which Central's results could be compared. So, for example, in '05-'06, 90.1% of Central's 3rd-graders met or exceeded the state benchmark in Reading, compared to 87.1% of all Oregon 3rd-graders. This means that our 3rd-graders were performing at 103% of the state average. That same year, 47.7% of our 10th graders met or exceeded in Reading compared to 55.0% for the state. So our 10th graders were performing at 86.7% of the state average. [100% is average; over 100% is above average; below 100% is below average.] The last two charts show those calculations for 2005 through 2009.

The "reforms" instituted by the superintendent have failed to increase student achievement. Brand new buildings are great but it's what happens inside of them that is most important.