Results from the 2013-14 Standards of Learning tests show improvement in math scores for students in Williamsburg-James City County and York County schools, but mixed results in other categories.
The Virginia Department of Education released the preliminary results on the 2013-14 Standards of Learning tests for schools across Virginia on Wednesday.
VDOE assesses student achievement on various levels, including by test at each school in the district, by test district-wide, by test category and by demographic subgroup. The subgroups classify Virginia students by race, socioeconomic status, disabilities and Limited English Proficiency.
Virginia students improved their scores in the second year of more rigorous standards on the math SOL. Statewide scores improved to 74 percent of students passing the test at their grade level in 2013-14, compared to 71 percent in 2012-13.
In the second year of more rigorous tests in English, the Department of Education said statewide student performance was “relatively flat.” Seventy-four percent of students passed their grade level reading SOLS in 2013-14, and 75 percent passed the grade level writing test.
Statewide performance on the science SOL declined slightly, with 80 percent of students passing their grade level or end-of-course — biology, chemistry and earth science — tests in 2013-14, compared to 81 percent in 2012-13. The history SOL tests also saw a one-point drop in student performance, from 85 percent in 2012-2013 to 84 percent in 2013-14.
The Department of Education will issue district accreditation ratings, along with updated school and division report cards, in September.
Superintendent of Public Instruction Steven Staples said the number of Virginia districts not meeting the state’s requirements for full accreditation would increase when the new assessments come out.
“The increase that we will see next month in the number of schools that fall short of the state’s accreditation standards must be viewed in the context of the higher standards and changing assessments,” Staples said in a statement. “Students are not learning less; the state has raised the bar, and the academic reviews VDOE will conduct this year will provide opportunities for school divisions and the department to identify best practices that will help students meet these new standards.”
WJCC Schools Boost Science, Math SOLs
In Williamsburg-James City County Schools, district pass rates exceeded state averages in each of the five SOL categories.
The number of students passing their math SOLs increased from 79 to 81 percent. Every subgroup except for students with disabilities increased their passage rates for 2013-14. Students with limited English proficiency saw the greatest increase in test scores, with 56 percent passing the math exam — a 12 point jump from last year. Asian students performed best on the 2013-14 math tests, with pass rates rising six points to 96 percent.
The pass rates for reading tests dropped among all students in the district and in all but one subgroup. Throughout the district, pass rates fell from 82 percent to 79 percent. The pass rate for Asian students rose from 86 percent in 2012-13 to 90 percent in 2013-14. The pass rates for the writing test increased by a point among all students to 81 percent, and in all subgroups except Hispanic students, whose rate remained at 75 percent. Students with limited English proficiency showed the greatest increase, from 30 percent to 50 percent.
WJCC scores showed small gains and losses on the history SOL, and small gains on the science SOLs. On the history SOLs, pass rates improved for Hispanic students and Limited English Proficient students, at 84 percent and 60 percent, respectively. Overall student pass rates fell by one point, from 88 percent to 87 percent. Every subgroup improved in science SOL pass rates, and overall student performance increased from 83 percent to 85 percent.
York County Schools Improve District Math SOL Scores
In York County, pass percentages district-wide exceeded state averages in each of the five SOL categories.
Pass rates for the math SOLs improved by 2 percentage points among all students, from 81 to 83 percent. Every subgroup increased their pass rates except students with disabilities, which fell four points to 48 percent.
District performance dropped by two percentage points for both the reading and writing SOLs. On the reading test, students with limited English proficiency increased their scores, from 59 percent to 67 percent. Two subgroups — Hispanic students and students with limited English proficiency — improved their pass rates on the writing test, to 84 percent and 67 percent, respectively. The pass rate for white students remained the same, at 85 percent.
York County’s pass rates for the history SOLs showed minimal change. Overall pass rates for YCSD students remained at 89 percent. Among the subgroups, three changed from the 2012-13 rates. Economically disadvantaged students dropped by two points to 74 percent, while students with disabilities lost a point, at 60 percent. Students with limited English proficiency improved by a point, to 79 percent.
Pass rates for the science SOLs dropped district-wide and in all but one subgroup. Students with disabilities declined the most, from 61 percent to 52 percent. Only students with Limited English proficiency improved, to 72 percent from 66 percent.
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