PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island elementary and middle school students showed improvement in reading, writing and math scores on a regional standardized test for the third consecutive year, state education officials announced today.
In the New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP) tests taken in October by students in grades 3 to 8, 68 percent of Rhode Island students were deemed proficient in reading, an increase of 3 percentage points; 57 percent were considered proficient in math, up 3 points; and 53 percent were proficient in writing, up 5 points
“These test results are evidence that we are seeing real systemic change in public education in Rhode Island,” Robert G. Flanders Jr., chairman of the R.I. Board of Regents for Elementary and Secondary Education, said in announcing the results at the Statehouse this morning.
In grade 11, where the tests have been administered only for the past two years, the percentage of students reaching proficiency climbed 8 points in reading to 69 percent and 5 points in math to 27 percent.
Education officials found the low math proficiency rate among 11th graders troubling.
“Like our other NECAP partners in New Hampshire and Vermont, I remain concerned about the high-school mathematics scores,” said Peter McWalters, state commissioner of elementary and secondary education. “We are working with colleagues in higher education to improve the mathematics curriculum and instructional practices across the state, which should lead to continued improvements in the high school scores.”
Some of the strongest one-year gains were seen in the urban districts – Providence, Pawtucket, Woonsocket and Central Falls – which typically have lagged their suburban counterparts.
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The R.I. Department of Elementary and Secondary Education said reading proficiency in reading across all grades was 48 percent in the urban districts, an increase of 5 percentage points over last year and 13 points over the past four years. Math proficiency in urban schools – although still low, at 36 percent – jumped 4 percentage points over the past year. That represents an increase of 8 points in four years.
By comparison, Rhode Island’s “urban ring” districts – East Providence, Cranston, Johnston, North Providence, Newport, Warwick and West Warwick – reached 72 percent proficiency in reading and 58 percent proficiency in math, achieving year-over-year increases 10 points and 8 points, respectively.
And in the state’s suburban districts, 78 percent of the students were proficient in reading and 70 percent in math, up 6 points and 5 points, respectively.
“While we have made major strides, we know we still have work to do, especially in mathematics,” said Gov. Donald L. Carcieri. “We will continue to focus our efforts and gauge our progress. My congratulations to students, teachers and administrators throughout Rhode Island on their great achievements.”
Additional information from the R.I. Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and its Office of Assessment and Accountability is available at www.ride.ri.gov.
