R.I. high school students lag in NECAP testing

PROVIDENCE – Most high school students in Rhode Island achieved proficiency in reading in last fall’s standardized tests but fell short of that mark in mathematics and writing, according to new figures from the R.I. Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
R.I. students in grades 3 through 8 fared far better in New England Common Assessment Program tests, administered in October. Their average NECAP scores improved for the second year in a row, to 65 percent proficient in reading and 54 percent in mathematics, according to preliminary results released Feb. 4. (READ MORE)
Overall, 64 percent of Rhode Island students achieved NECAP reading scores of “proficient” or above, including 14 percent who achieved “proficient with distinction”; 22 percent were rated as “partially proficient”; and the remaining 13 percent as “substantially below proficient,” state education officials said in yesterday’s report.
In the mathematics section, 49 percent achieved proficiency in mathematics, including 11 percent with distinction, while 23 percent were rated partially proficient and 28 percent as substantially below.
Among 11th graders, 61 percent were rated at or above “proficient” in reading, including 16 percent who achieved “proficient with distinction.” But 24 percent were rated as “partially proficient,” and the remaining 14 percent as “substantially below proficient.”
Mathematics proficiency was achieved by 22 percent of 11th graders , including 1 percent with distinction, and another 27 percent were rated partially proficient. But 51 percent were rated as substantially below the target level.
In the NECAP writing tests administered only in grades 5, 8 and 11, scores of proficiency or above were achieved by 43 percent of Rhode Island students, including the 9 percent achieving distinction, while 39 percent were rated partly proficient and 17 percent substantially below.
Writing proficiency was achieved by 53 percent of fifth graders, including 18 percent who achieved proficient with distinction; 41 percent of eighth graders, 7 percent with distinction; and 37 percent of 11th graders, 3 percent with distinction.
At the high school level, Barrington had the highest levels of proficiency in both reading (90 percent) and math (63 percent), and was second-highest in writing (60 percent). East Greenwich was No. 2 in reading (88 percent) and math (54 percent) and No. 1 in writing, with 67 percent of students achieving proficiency. North Kingstown was No. 3 in each category. Bristol-Warren, Middletown, Portsmouth and South Kingstown also had scores notably higher than most of the state.
Apart from students in DCYF care, Central Falls had the lowest percentage of students achieving percentage in reading (33 percent) and math (3 percent), and had the fourth lowest share of students proficient in writing (19 percent). Blackstone Academy Charter School, fifth worst in reading (50 percent) and fourth worst in math (10 percent) had the lowest percentage of students proficient in writing (14 percent). Woonsocket, Providence, Pawtucket and other charter and vocational schools also were notable for their low scores.
The state’s goal is to have achieve 100 percent of students proficiency by 2014 in both the NECAP reading, writing and mathematics assessments and the R.I. Alternate Assessment that are used to evaluate students in grades 2 through 8 and grade 10.
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.