WASL scores show ups and downs

Moses Lake, Ephrata schools show improvement

GRANT COUNTY — Final results of the Washington Assessment of Student Learning for 2005-2006 were released Friday, showing scores around Grant County improved in some areas and declined in others.

Moses Lake School District's third, fourth, fifth and eighth grade students scored above Washington average, while tenth grade students scored below state average. Students showed improvement in math, reading and writing scores but declined in science scores.

The section for tenth-grade students showing the most dramatic improvement was in writing, which rose 17.2 percent, with 77.2 percent passing. Math was up 1.3 percent, with 44.1 percent passing. Science was down by 1 percent, with 33.3 percent passing. Students improved in reading by 13.1 percent, with 78.2 percent passing.

"We're encouraged by a lot of the results," said Steve Chestnut, superintendent of the Moses Lake School District.

Chestnut said the district was pleased it scored above state average in four grade levels and noted the progress the district is making in reading and writing scores. The district also improved its on-time graduation rate, Chestnut said. Those numbers have not been released by the state.

Chestnut said the district recognizes it has room for improvement. Fourth-grade reading scores declined, as did fifth-grade science and seventh-grade math and reading.

The Moses Lake School District is buying new math materials at the end of the 2006-2007 school year, after it reviews its curriculum. Current materials are about five to seven years old, Chestnut said. The district is reviewing the curriculum.

"(We want) to try and see if there's something better out there," he said.

Math teachers are going to undergo professional development during the school year, he said. One part-time math tutor at the secondary level is going to work full-time this year, Chestnut said. Beginning with this year's freshmen, high school students must now take three years of math as a graduation requirement.

For science, the district already purchased new materials, such as science books, and provided professional development to the teachers.

Chestnut said it takes districts time to adjust to having a state curriculum.

Ephrata School District sophomores showed improvement in all subject areas and scored above state average in all areas. In addition, third grade students scored above state average in all areas, fourth grade students scored above state average in reading and writing and fifth grade, sixth grade and seventh grade students scored above state average in reading. Fifth-grade science scores declined, as did seventh-grade reading and writing scores.

Tenth-grade students scored 58 percent better in science, with 46.7 passing instead of 28.7 percent for last year. Reading scores were up 25.7 percent, with 86.1 percent passing. Math scores were up 15.5 percent, with 55.1 percent passing. Writing scores were up 21.7 percent, with 82.1 percent passing.

"Generally, we're really pleased with our results at this point," said Jerry Simon, superintendent of the Ephrata School District.

Teachers in the K-4 levels did a good job preparing students for the test, aligning curriculum with the state and giving individual attention to students, Simon said.

This year for the first time, ninth-grade students are required to take physical science. Many WASL science questions were related to physical science, but students previously had the option to bypass the class and take biology, he said.

The Ephrata district is using a new program this year that provides immediate feedback to teachers, and identifies student strengths and weaknesses, he said. Additionally, one of the district's teachers was reassigned to focus strongly on math, conducting an assessment to identify which students need help in math.

Students who did not perform well in math their eighth-grade year will now be able to take two periods of math their freshman year of high school.

Simon said because the test is now a high school graduation requirement, students took the test seriously, which contributed to improved scores at the tenth-grade level. The class of 2008 comprise the first group of students required to pass the WASL to graduate. The science section is a graduation requirement starting with this year's freshmen, who take the test during the 2007-2008 school year. Students have five chances to pass.

"This year, we feel like we're going to do really well," he said.

For complete results for these and other county school districts, visit report card.osp.k12.wa.us.