Test scores vary across Franklin Square, Elmont

Standardized test scores in Franklin Square and Elmont were primarily up from last year’s results. New York State recently released the results of the 2012 tests in Math and ELA for students in grades 3 through 8 and both districts saw improvements from 2011. Though scores were higher, the Elmont Union Free School District performed lower than the county average.

Both districts exceeded the state average for every test. Students achieving a 3 or 4 on the tests are considered passing. However, results in Elmont fell below the county average in every exam excluding sixth grade math where students surpassed the country average.

Franklin Square students exceeded the Nassau County average across grades 3 through 6 in both Math and ELA. While scores met the county average, the district is still seeing the implications of the increase in cut scores instituted in 2009. Cut scores are the grades students must achieve to be considered passing. Franklin Square Superintendent Patrick Manley would like to see the district’s passing scores return to the level they were before the state increased the cut scores. “We’re working toward getting back to those levels and our trend is going in the right direction,” he said.

School officials do not yet know what qualified as a passing score. Manley said he would like to look at those numbers and see how many students narrowly missed passing. The district will provide extra support for those students who struggled on the exams.

For students in grades 7 and 8 at the Sewanhaka Central High School District, results came in below the county average.Seventh and eight grade test scores were down from the 2011 school year in all areas except seventh grade ELA. Superintendent Dr. Ralph Ferrie was unavailable for comment.

Test results across the state have been lower since the state Department of Education increased the difficulty of grading requirements in 2009. According to the department, teachers and students should not expect to see a decline in test difficulty. “We’re building a ladder, grade by grade, to college and career readiness,” Commissioner John B. King, Jr. said. “Next school year, we start to implement reforms to make that ladder strong enough to support all our students as they climb toward college and career readiness.”