Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2008

WASL results: Richland, Kennewick top state average, Pasco made strong improvements

By Sara Schilling, Herald staff writer

Students in Richland and Kennewick scored better than the state average in most grades and subjects on a high-stakes test this spring, but they made limited gains over last year.

Pasco scores were below the state numbers but showed a greater amount of improvement.

The state released results of the Washington Assessment of Student Learning on Tuesday. The exam is given in grades 3-8 and high school to measure whether students are meeting state academic standards.

Statewide, scores were mixed. Writing and science results improved, but elementary and middle school reading and math scores appeared stuck, said state Superintendent Terry Bergeson.

The news was good in high school, she said, with the Class of 2009 -- incoming seniors -- in a better position than the Class of 2008 was at this time last year.

In 10th grade, 81.3 percent of students passed reading and 86.2 percent passed writing, which is up from 2007. Meeting standards on both of those exams or an approved alternative is a graduation requirement.

Richland

In the Richland School District, all but two groups of scores -- seventh- and eighth-grade reading -- beat the state average.

Fifth- and eighth-graders saw gains over last year's results in every subject tested. Eighth-grade science scores jumped nearly 7 percent to 55.8 percent passing in 2008.

But other grades and subjects were down some from last year. About 58 percent of seventh-graders passed the WASL in reading. That's below the state average of 62.8 percent and down 16 percent from 2007.

"What we have is a leveling off effect in terms of math and reading," said Assistant Superintendent Mike Kirby. "I think this is a state issue as well, but as a district we need to figure out what it's going to take to consistently raise the scores again."

Kirby said teachers and administrators are working hard to ensure students are meeting standards. The district is adopting new math curriculum, and math and reading instruction also are being addressed in the district's strategic planning process.

Kennewick

The Kennewick district saw similar mixed results. For instance, third-grade reading scores dropped from 77 percent passing in 2007 to 74.4 percent passing this year. But that still was above the state average of 70.4 percent passing.

Fifth-graders made improvements across the board, including a 35 percent gain in science. About 47 percent of fifth-grade students passed the test in that subject.

Writing scores also jumped in fourth and 10th grades by more than 4 percent.

Teachers and administrators have worked to align writing curriculum across classrooms and grades, said Ardis Sparks, literacy and language arts curriculum specialist for Kennewick.

The district uses WASL data to identify trends in student learning and adjust instruction and curriculum where needed, said Superintendent Dave Bond.

"It's an ongoing thing," he said. "We take it seriously."

Pasco

The Pasco School District, which has more students with limited English skills and who come from low-income families than others in the Tri-Cities, posted results that were below the state average.

But the district also showed the most growth over last year.

Students in third, fifth, sixth and 10th grades did better in every subject than in 2007. A little more than 57 percent of seventh-graders passed the writing test, a 15 percent bump over last year.

Pasco 10th-graders also made significant gains in writing, said district spokeswoman Courtney Stenson.

Scores in that subject improved by 17 percent, with 76.4 percent passing the writing test.

Class of '09

Students in the Class of 2008 were the first required to pass the WASL in reading and writing or an alternative to graduate.

The state won't have a full accounting of the class until early next year, but the latest information shows 92.9 percent met standards in reading and writing, the state said.

Nearly 70 percent passed the test in reading, writing and math.

The Class of 2009 -- this year's seniors -- is ahead of where that group was at the start of school last year. Eighty-six percent have met the reading and writing requirement.

About 75 percent of this year's juniors have passed in both reading and writing.

Students don't yet have to pass the math test or an alternative to graduate, but those who don't must earn extra math credits and keep taking the exam.

Math and science scores have lagged statewide, and education officials are overhauling standards in those subjects.

Along with measuring whether students meet standards, the WASL also is used to determine if schools are making "adequate yearly progress" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

The state plans to announce those results Thursday.

High school SAT results also were released Tuesday, and Washington's numbers in reading and math were higher than any other state where at least half of eligible students took the exams, the state said.

The results were for students who were seniors last school year.

The WASL results aren't yet finalized because districts still are working to ensure each student's information is correct.

For more WASL information, go to www.k12.wa.us.