District administrator Tim Culver has issued a press release on the subject of the annual test scores (WKCE = Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Exam). He specifically identifies 4 areas of success and 3 areas of concern. Dr. Culver's job understandably is to point out any shimmer in such data to focus on the positives. As residents and parents, however, most of us want the straight scoop....an unbiased view of how are kids are doing relative to state standards as well as to area schools.
Some use the "not-so-positives" to point fingers at the teachers. We have to be realistic and understand that teachers teach to a curriculum. While certainly some teachers are better than others at enhancing the learning process, they all sing from the same song sheet, so to speak. Therefore, a better focus for areas of concern is the curriculum content itself. Additionally, some like to "spin" lower scores by pointing out the disparity in ethnic or socioeconomic demographics of one school district or another--or even v=between schools within a district. Again, we need to "keep it real". ALL of Sun Prairie's students are OUR collective students. The job of the school district administration is to find ways to enable all children to learn and grow equally.
With that as a preface, let's take a look at the scores. The state DPI focuses more heavily on scores of 4th, 8th, and 10th grade students. In the figures below, percentage scores represent the percent of students district-wide that scored as "proficient" or "advanced" on the WKCE tests. The District goal is for 90% of all students to score "proficient" or "advanced" in both reading and math. Decide for yourselves...how are our kids REALLY doing?
High School - 10th grade
As the table shows, when all 5 subject areas are considered, relative to the other 15 local school districts, Sun Prairie ranked 8th out of 16 (subjects ranged from 4th to 11th). Last year we ranked 6th. Last year 4 of the 5 subject areas had scores 12-13 %age point above the statewide average. This year only 1 subject ranked as high as 10%age points above the statewide average. The great news is that that subject was Language Arts (grammar/writing skills). The even better news is that, relative to the other 15 schools, our 10th grade Language Arts score ranked 4th of 16. Language Arts skills have been identified as a weakness by both state colleges and employers. The math score fell below 80% this year. Last year, all 5 subject areas scored above 80%. Considering only Reading and Math, 10th graders ranked 14 out of the 16 area districts. Considering the big "3" (which adds Language Arts), our 10th graders ranked 8 of 16.
Middle School - 8th grade
As the table shows, when all 5 subject areas are considered, relative to the other 15 local school districts, Sun Prairie ranked 11th (subjects ranged from 9th to 12th). Last year we also ranked 11th. Both this year and last year all 5 subjects ranked 4 to 8 %age points above the statewide average. Even though the Language Arts score ranked only 9th, last year we ranked 13th. This year 8th graders increased their Language Arts percentage by 2 points over last year. This is of note in light of the fact that half of the area school districts' Language Arts scores dropped by 4 or more percentage points.
Considering only Reading and Math, 8th graders ranked 9th out of the 16 area districts. Considering the big "3" (which adds Language Arts), our 8th graders ranked 11 of 16. Of interesting note is that of the 16 area districts, only Middleton-Cross Plains scored at least 80% (80%) proficient or advanced in Language Arts.
Elementary School - 4th grade
As the table shows, when all 5 subject areas are considered, relative to the other 15 local school districts, Sun Prairie ranked 9th (subjects ranged from 3rd to 10th). Last year we ranked 12th. Both this year and last year all 5 subjects ranked 4 to 9%age points above the statewide average.
Even though the Language Arts score ranked only 9th, last year we ranked 13th. This year 8th graders increased their Language Arts percentage by 2 points over last year. This is of note in light of the fact that half of the area school districts' Language Arts scores dropped by 4 or more percentage points.
Considering only Reading and Math, 8th graders ranked 10th out of the 16 area districts. Considering the big "3" (which adds Language Arts), our 8th graders ranked 10 of 16. Of interesting note is that of the 16 area districts, only Madison scored LESS THAN 90% proficient or advanced in Social Studies. Only Waunakee scored at least 90% proficient or advanced in all 5 subject areas. Cambridge was close with subject scores ranging from 89% to 100% proficient or advanced.
For more information:
Read the 5-30-08 Wisconsin State Journal article comparing WKCE scores of area schools
Read District Administrator Tim Culver's Press Release appearing in the STAR
Read the 99 page Sun Prairie school district 2007 Monitoring Report
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