GILROY—In the first round of a new testing system, Gilroy public school students exceeded or nearly outscored state averages in math and English Language Arts, according to results from the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP).
But in the seven grade levels tested, Gilroy scores fell far short of average scores in Santa Clara County public schools.
“Overall, the CAASPP results indicate that our district compares favorably with the state,” Gilroy schools superintendent Debbie Flores said in a press release.
“We are particularly pleased with the performance of our significant subgroups on the assessment and that many of our grade levels exceeded the statewide results in math,” she said, referring to English learners and Hispanics.
Indeed they did. Gilroy students scored 37 percent in math tests compared to the state average of 34 percent. Gilroy also outscored students in Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz county schools in math. Those scores were 20, 25 and 32 percent, respectively.
In English Language Arts, Gilroy’s 43 percent performance was one point shy of the state average of 44 percent. Gilroy beat out Monterey and San Benito counties, 32 percent and 38 percent, respectively, and tied Santa Cruz students.
The spreads between Gilroy and the average Santa Clara County schools’ scores were significant in math and ELA, 43 vs. 58 percent and 37 vs. 52 percent, respectively.
At Gilroy’s only charter public school, Gilroy Prep School, scores far exceeded those of the Gilroy Unified School District’s regular schools, according to a GPS announcement.
In math, an average 64 percent of GPS students tested met or exceeded state standards, including 80 percent of third-graders, 50 percent of fourth-graders and 64 percent of fifth-graders.
In ELA testing, an average of 78 percent of students met or exceeded state standards, including 85 percent of third-graders, 62 percent of fourth-graders and 88 percent of fifth-graders.
“We see the significant growth and development each of our students exhibits on a daily basis,” said James Dent, Executive Director of Navigator Schools, which runs GPS and a charter school in Hollister.
“But, seeing irrefutable tangible evidence of that growth through standardized tests only solidifies our belief in our approach and teaching methods.”
The 2015 CAASPP Smarter Balanced Assessments, administered in the spring, “…will establish a new baseline for the progress that students are expected to make over time,” according to a GUSD press release.
“Results…will serve as a tool to help Gilroy Unified and other school districts identify strengths and areas that need improvement in educational programs,” the district announcement states.
According to the district, the assessments “…are new computer-based tests that measure student knowledge of California’s English Language Arts and mathematics standards [that] replace the former paper-based, multiple-choice tests for students in grades 3-8 and 11.”
For general information on the state assessment tests, visitwww.caaspp.org. For all test results, visit caaspp.cde.ca.gov.
BOX:
GUSD’s test highlights
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In five out of seven grade levels tested, GUSD students outperformed peers statewide in math by 2 to 8 percentage points
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In six out of seven grade levels tested in English Language Arts, GUSD scored within 2 points of peers statewide
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GUSD’s significant subgroups (Hispanic, socio-economically disadvantaged and English Learners) outperformed peers in California in math and ELA
GUSD’s Hispanic subgroup outperformed county and state peers in math and ELAGUSD’s English Learner subgroup outperformed state peers in math and ELA
