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Fort Worth ISD Students Show Significant Improvement in First-Round STAAR Testing
Fort Worth, Texas - Fifth-grade students in Fort Worth Independent School District made significant gains in both reading and math on this spring’s STAAR tests, according to preliminary data released by the Texas Education Agency. Scores for eighth graders showed moderate increases when compared to last year.
At fifth grade, reading scores for students testing in English saw a 10-point increase from 61% to 71% passing while math scores went up five points, from 71% to 76% passing.
“We are very encouraged by the gains we see in these early results,” said Superintendent Kent P. Scribner. “We know that literacy is the foundation for all subjects. As our students become better readers, we are confident they will continue to grow in other subjects as well.”
The TEA now measures STAAR performance in multiple levels in each grade. They are:
- Approaches Grade Level. A student passing at the Approaches level demonstrates knowledge of the grade level material, but doesn’t show full understanding of some important concepts. This student is likely to need extra help in the next grade.
- Meets Grade Level. A student who Meets Grade Level demonstrates good understanding of the subject material and is ready for the next grade.
- Masters Grade Level. A student passing at Masters shows strong understanding of the subject materials and is well prepared for success in the next grade.
Not only did Fort Worth ISD see significant gains in the percentage of students passing the fifth-grade STAAR mathematics test, those gains were made at all performance levels: Approaches, Meets, and Masters for all students and in each student group, including Hispanic, African-American, White, Economically Disadvantaged, English Learners, and students served by Special Education.
In fifth-grade STAAR reading, the District saw even greater gains at the Meets and Approaches level for all students and each student group.
Overall, fifth-grade students in FWISD had greater gains than the state in both reading and math at the Approaches level.
While scores in eighth-grade remained steady, FWISD saw a significant increase in the percentage of students passing at the highest standard – Masters Grade Level –in reading and at the grade level standard (Meets Grade Level) for mathematics.
Students enrolled in fifth and eighth-grade must pass the STAAR reading and mathematics test to meet grade advancement requirements. Students who did not pass the tests in April have two additional testing opportunities, one in May and another in June.
STAAR testing continues this week with End of Course testing for high school students, and next week with STAAR grade level testing for students in grades 3-8. For more information about the tests given at each grade level, see this article on the District website.
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