Diminishing test scores trend improving; still an issue
Gilroy – That student scores suffer the most in high school isn’t a trend unique to the Garlic Capitol.
Across the nation, standardized test scores tend to be the highest in elementary school, dip a bit in middle school and then fall even more in high school.
But why? California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell said the fad of falling Academic Performance Index is a result of neglect. In the past, school districts and the state have devoted more resources, time money and programs to elementary schools.
The state official recognized the dilemma and a few years ago made high school achievement a priority, he said during a press teleconference in Sacramento Tuesday. One of the major changes was the implementation of the California High School Exit Exam.
“I am particularly pleased to see that our focus on high schools is paying dividends,” O’Connell stated in a California Department of Education press release. “I believe the California High School Exit Exam has been a key driver of progress as our students concentrate on learning the standards. It has also resulted in more focused instruction and individualized attention for struggling students. We still have a long way to go to improve our high schools, but I applaud the rate of improvement and hope that we can increase the pace.”
The number of high schools reaching or exceeding the 800 point target was 12 percent, up from 7 percent last year. With an API of 683, a 93-point gain since 2000, Gilroy High is definitely heading in the same direction as the state.
But Gilroy High School still has 117 points to accrue before reaching the 800 target and only achieved a rank of five when compared to schools with similar demographics and the state overall, according to the API report released Tuesday.
Principal James Maxwell said his students still have a long ways to go but they should be proud of the 90-plus point increase.
He’s not sure why scores fall at the high school level but he does think the inherent apathy of teens has an effect. While elementary students aim to please, high school students are aware that API scores don’t reflect on their future and some educators attribute the drop to that attitude.
“My pitch to them is you should be looking for improvement in yourself,” Maxwell said.
The principal also asks parents to discuss the importance of the assessments with their children and tells them they have a right to know how their teen is doing.
Whether the CAHSEE has played any role in improved student achievement Maxwell isn’t so sure.
“It’s a good theory, that I would agree with,” he said. “But that would be really hard to prove.”
Instead Maxwell points to GHS’ emphasis on improving literacy and now math skills, as the tools used to improve test scores.
