cent.
SOL scores in reading, writing, science and history were a mixed bag. Some grades and subjects followed the state's downward trend, while others defied it.
Although overall King & Queen County’s SOL scores fell in line with other school divisions in the state, Superintendent Dr. Stanley Jones said he puts little weight in the testing.
“When people look at the SOL scores of these smaller schools, they have to remember that because of the size, if one student doesn’t pass the test, it pulls down the average much faster than it would at a much bigger school. When looking at SOL scores across the board, it’s not really comparing apples to apples.”
King William County
While King William County Public Schools saw test scores fall for some grade levels, third gradersunder performed in all four testing areas.
“We’re fully accredited again, which is very good,” King William County Superintendent Mark Jones said. “We do have areas where we need to work, and our teachers and staffs are already on that. Cool Spring Primary School (the county’s pre-K through second grade school) is looking at third and fourth grade data like it’s their data. We also have our teachers in some pretty rigorous staff development in areas they feel they really need to address.”
The division also struggled in English and reading, scoring below the state average for all but two grade levels.
“Every year we go back at the beginning of the year as soon as we get test results and look at how well we did in areas where we need to revise,” Jones added. “Then we go back and look at our pacing guides – which are (guides to what we teach and when) during the school year – and we look at how we can change those to better enhance our instruction.”
New Kent County
SOL test takers experienced saw improvement in math, except for sixth grade and geometry students. Test scores for sixth grade went down 10 percent points, while geometry scores decreased by two points.
Three math SOL testing groups were also below the state average of 74 percent: grades 3 and 8, and geometry. Rising reading, writing, science and history SOL tests went against the statewide trend.However, three reading, writing, science, and history SOL groups were below the state average of 74 percent: third grade reading, sixth grade reading, and eighth grade writing.
“In some of the tests we had double-digit gains, and in different buildings,” Miller said. “That says a lot about our school system.”
The division performed well in each of its testing areas. History scores, for example, outperformed the state in every grade level. Elsewhere, math scored rose in seven of the nine tests administered.
“We are pleased with our students’ achievement on the Standards of Learning assessments,” Superintendent Jeffery Smith stated in an email. “All schools will remain fully accredited and meet the federal Annual Measurable Objectives. Our students exceeded state pass rates in every category. Even though the state has increased the rigor by requiring students to apply complex critical thinking and problem solving strategies, our students continue to meet the challenges.”
According to Stanley Jones, preliminary SOL test results allow divisions to continue studying data and adjusting instructional procedures to achieve high results.
He added, however, that the SOLs are only one way to measure a student’s success.
“We are not just concerned about how our students do at the end of the year, but we are also concerned about how they do day-to-day," Stanley Jones said.
Next month, the VDOE will release state accreditation and federal accountability reports, as well as updated school/division report cards.
More – To view state, division and school-level results, visit:http://www.doe.virginia.gov/news/news_releases/2014/08_aug27.shtml.