Schools

Parkway Schools Test Above State Averages, Fall Short of Federal Targets

See how the Parkway School District measures up on annual 'No Child Left Behind' standards.

Preliminary results of annual statewide testing suggest that Parkway students have improved communications and math skills, and tested above state averages in those areas, but still fall short of national goals established under No Child Left Behind.

"We're headed in the right direction," student assessment coordinator Julie Collins said of the district's Missouri Assessment Program (or MAP) scores.

The data shows that taking a measure of growth over past years plus MAP test scores, Parkway schools beat the target by half a percentage point at 76 percent of students proficient.

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However, using only the test scores, the district misses the mark by 4.8, scoring 70.7 percent instead of the 2011 goal of 75.5 percent.

"Overall, we're pleased, but not satisfied," Collins said Thursday, when the data was made public by the Department of Education Elementary and Secondary Education. "Seventy-five percent of students proficient—it's terrific, but not enough.

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"We want to see the growth of every child," Collins said. 

In fact, the Parkway district is mobilizing to join a state pilot program that uses similar test data to track primarily academic growth of public school students, and in turn change the way teachers use the data to coordinate instruction for the individual student. It's slated to go into effect during the 2012-13 school year, Collins said.

"We want all our students to improve academically from year to year," said Parkway District Superintendent Dr. Keith Marty. "That's what matters most for learners and their teachers. We're pleased Missouri is moving toward a new school evaluation model that focuses on student growth."

The federal goals that tie into MAP testing of public school students began in 2002 and 100 percent proficiency is required by 2014. 

The designations are part of the Bush administration's No Child Left Behind legislation, whereby public schools must document student standing in order to avoid funding sanctions, paying for tutors, and paying for student transportation to higher-performing schools.

Communication arts and math are tested, measured and compared to Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) goals. The ratings are proficient and advanced, not pass/fail scoring.

The closer the year 2014 becomes, the higher the goals.

Statewide, 83.5 percent of public school districts did not meet their proficiency goals in 2011, according to the data.

So, what is its value?

"You start to ask, is this data really important? Collins said. While we may disagree somewhat with aspects of the program, the good side is we value the concept. It is attainable."

But Collins went on to say it likely takes more time and continued emphasis on the academic growth of each and every student.

Here's an sampling by the numbers, of how some Parkway schools scored:

Parkway District High Schools MAP Results


2010 Communication 2011 Communication 2010 Math 2011 Math Goals* 67.4% 75.5% 63.3%

72.5%

Central High  88.5 84.4 77.8  77.4 North High 82.4 85 63.5

68.7

South High 85.5 87.3 68.8 80.1 West High 80.8 83 71

73.5






For specific data about more schools, see the state MAP website. Select a district, then a school by name.

*These figures are percentages of students expected to test proficient for that grade level.


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