The ups and downs of test scores

As administrators from both the Lynbrook and East Rockaway school districts reviewed the results of the 2012 state assessments, which were released in mid-July, they saw scores they were pleased with and others they would like to see improved.

The English Language Arts and math exams were given to students in third through eighth grade in April, and the scores often determine whether children need extra support services. Beginning next year, student performance on state exams will also play a role in teacher evaluations.

Scoring on the assessments is divided into four levels, and students who score at Level 3 or 4 are considered to have passed. Students in Lynbrook surpassed both the state and county average passing rates on both exams in all six grades. In the East Rockaway district, students exceeded the state averages on all but two exams — and performance improved in third- through sixth-grade math — but they fell below the county average in both tests in every grade.

East Rockaway Superintendent Dr. Roseanne Melucci said that she and her staff use the assessment results to improve both teaching and learning, in the interest of boosting students’ performance. “One of the indicators from last year’s results,” Melucci said, referring to the 2011 exams, “showed that we needed to address learning in mathematics in the elementary schools. In response, we provided interventions such as staff development and additional services for the students, and we have seen improvement in the elementary math scores.”

Dr. Santo Barbarino, superintendent of Lynbrook schools, said he thought the district did well on this year’s tests, and highlighted the passing rate of 94.6 percent in sixth-grade math, which was more than 15 percentage points higher than the county average.

“Lynbrook does well but never sits still,” Barbarino said. “We’re always looking to improve. We want better and better education for the students, and we want better and better performance.”