CHANGE MY LOCATION
Local
Multimedia News
Standardized test scores on rise in local Md. counties
SEE THE LATEST ON THIS STORY
Related Topics: WASHINGTON
In Montgomery County, 86 percent of third-graders scored at or above proficiency in math and reading, up from 80 percent in math and 78 percent in reading in 2004, and up about two percentage points from last year.
Enough students scored “at or above proficiency” on the yearly Maryland State Assessment, or MSA, to meet federal guidelines for adequate progress toward the goal of all students scoring “proficient” in reading and math by 2014.
In Prince George’s County, the mark was met by 72 percent of third-graders, up from 57 percent in math and 55 percent in reading in 2004. Students made a 4 percent leap in math proficiency over last year’s scores, and 2 percent in reading.
“Forward progress is good, and that’s the direction we have to keep going,” said Montgomery school board member Pat O’Neill, adding that a handful of schools in Montgomery were removed from the federal watch-list of underperforming schools. “We need to be vigorous every day in every classroom, paying attention to every student.”
As officials cheer the successes, however, the racial achievement gap that No Child Left Behind aims to wipe out continues to bedevil both counties.
In Montgomery, where intense efforts have been made since early in the decade to reduce class size and increase resources to the poorest schools, 76 percent of black and Hispanic third-graders scored at or above proficiency in reading, compared with 95 percent of their white peers.
In Prince George’s, a predominantly black district, the greatest gap was between white and Hispanic students. While 86 percent of white third-graders scored at or above proficiency in math, only 74 percent of Hispanic third-graders performed the same. In reading, 84 percent of white students did well enough, while only 66 percent of Hispanic students met the requirements.
Scores for Virginia students’ standardized tests will be released by the end of August.
lfabel@dcexaminer.com
Comments from Examiner Readers
12:33 PM MST on Thu., Jul. 24, 2008 re: "Law may inhibit student teachers, educators say"
Report as inappropriate
11:28 AM MST on Tue., Jul. 15, 2008
re: "Maryland wins greater flexibility under No Child Left Behind"
Report as inappropriate
10:59 AM MST on Wed., Jul. 2, 2008
re: "Maryland wins greater flexibility under No Child Left Behind"
Report as inappropriate
10:49 AM MST on Wed., Jul. 2, 2008
re: "Maryland wins greater flexibility under No Child Left Behind"
Report as inappropriate
9:00 PM MST on Tue., Jun. 24, 2008
re: "Ocean City Elementary only school in state leaving no child behind"
Report as inappropriate
6:08 PM MST on Tue., Jun. 24, 2008
re: "Ocean City Elementary only school in state leaving no child behind"
Report as inappropriate
9:40 AM MST on Tue., Jun. 24, 2008
re: "Ocean City Elementary only school in state leaving no child behind"
Report as inappropriate
7:20 AM MST on Tue., Jun. 24, 2008
re: "Ocean City Elementary only school in state leaving no child behind"
Report as inappropriate
7:04 AM MST on Tue., Jun. 24, 2008
re: "Ocean City Elementary only school in state leaving no child behind"
Report as inappropriate
9:48 AM MST on Fri., May. 23, 2008
re: "Most kids not taking federal tests are poor, labeled as special needs"
Report as inappropriate
Examiner Reader said:
11:28 reader= you need to read your own post and see you yourself need the basics. So many misspelled words it is a shame you even left that comment.
11 agree | 9 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
it is like now grasmick is patting herself on the back because test schores are up in reading and math. however, ask a child were iraq is and chances are they cannot give the correct location. Better yet ask them about american history and they will be unable to answer the basics. No one this state has government as it's hsa because they can indoctrinate the students tyo vote democratic. maryland the land of coruption. just so grasmick understands it is not that the scores are getting better it is tyhat the districts now are teaching to the test. the hell with everything else. as long as the msa and hsa are pasted. besides in the english hsa grammar and spelling plus punctuation does not count. heck i would be alble to pass that test.
13 agree | 11 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
What does absenteeism have do with no child left behind. How many rich kids with two parent household do not go to school. Just to hit the parents liquor cabinets. The problem is the schools do not receive enogh funds for books. When was the last time does anyone remember children carry books. You have a school in Anne Arundel county/ Pasadena area where the homes cost $450,000 plus and the kids cant not read. You have parents go to the school ask Question and have their children tested to told everything is okay. Then move Baltimore co. where basically they have fix the issue from the school. Baltimore County right now and there are not many that put the kids first. And remember you never no why and child was not in school so do assume.
14 agree | 14 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
This is just a way the Government can get away with not applying proper funds for the schools. When can't help the schools but the Government can spend billions per month for a war. These are the kid s that will take care of the world when we no longer can. Who are coming out of school and can not read the television guide.
14 agree | 13 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
kid bro sweets said:
perhaps the misinformed soul that said "geez...look at the kids in the picture" should do a little homework themselves. many of the students at that school are actually free and reduced meal students. sounds to me like you are judging the book by the cover and not by the facts.
14 agree | 13 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
who's this silvestri guy? stay on the schools. if they fail, rome burns.
13 agree | 12 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Johnny Apple seed said:
When our teachers smile, open doors, use complete sentences and stay out of politics and gossip the test scores will increase. It's not just a job it's a moral obligation. Our teachers want raises and do nothing special but uproar. What a joke. Give teachers a cookie to teach proper manners and humanity before you give the degree's out.
12 agree | 14 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
"It's nothing fancy" is right. A School system like Howard, in which the superintendent gets a 12% raise then needs tens of millions of dollars to build or renovate schools that look like shopping malls, doesn't improve education. Stick to the basics... keep kids, teachers, and parents motivated and see how the scores are then.
15 agree | 13 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Fed up!!!! said:
Gee, I wonder why they are able to meet standards? Could it be because the students all look they do in the picture?
15 agree | 15 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
In my experience absenteeism is higher all year round for students who are poor and/or special needs, and it has much less to do with "subtle encouragement not to participate" than with single parents who aren't home to roust their kids out of bed, or who need their kids to stay home with a sick sibling, or who suffer a higher incidence of physical conditions or illnesses that are comorbid with their disabilities. I would like to see a study that looks at whether absenteeism is higher among these populations during testing than over the course of the school year.
17 agree | 18 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree