TCAP Score Improvement Likely Not Enough for Metro

Metro Nashville School’s test scores are about 5 percent better than last year, but that improvement probably isn’t enough to meet targets set by No Child Left Behind.

Local officials emphasize that the data released today is preliminary. The official determination of whether the district improved as much as it should is still yet to come.

But the figures have to change quite a bit to hit the target. This year, in grades 3 through 8, 49 percent of students should pass the test for reading. Statewide, the figure is close, a little over 48 percent. In Metro, it’s not quite 40 percent.

The statistics for math are similar. The pass rate should be 40 percent, the state’s is 41, Metro’s is just 32.

The targets were reset last year when Tennessee’s assessment tests were made more difficult. No Child Left Behind calls for every student to pass the tests in 2014.

Web Extra:

Tennessee’s Targets at the Elementary/Middle School Level Determined by the Percent of Students at the Proficient or Advanced Levels (taken from the state’s NCLB compliance workbook)

through 2003-2004: Reading/Language Arts 77% Math 72% Attendance 93%
2004-2005 & 2006-2007: Reading/Language Arts 83% Math 79% Attendance 93%
2007-2008 & 2008-2009: Reading/Language Arts 89% Math 86% Attendance 93%
TESTS AND STANDARDS CHANGED FOR 2009-2010 SCHOOL YEAR, TARGETS RESET TO REFLECT SHIFT
2009-2010: Reading/Language Arts 32% Math 20% Attendance 93%
2010-2011: Reading/Language Arts 49% Math 40% Attendance 93%
2011-2012: Reading/Language Arts 66% Math 60% Attendance 93%
2012-2013: Reading/Language Arts 83% Math 80% Attendance 93%
2013-2014: Reading/Language Arts 100% Math 100% Attendance 93%

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Preliminary results:

Math

For the 2010-11 school year, 41 percent of 3rd–8th grade students were rated proficient or advanced in math – a seven percent improvement over last year’s average, and one point over the 2010-11 target of 40 percent. Next year that target jumps up to 60 percent proficient or advanced.

Metro Davidson County’s percentage improved by more than six percent to just shy of 33 percent of students proficient or advanced.

Several school systems topped the list with scores above 60 percent proficient or advanced; they were Williamson County, Newport City, Maryville City, Kingsport City, Johnson City and Franklin SSD.

Memphis City Schools improved more than 4.5 percent, but with only 22.63 percent of students proficient or advanced in math for the 2010-11 school year, the system ranked second from the bottom of the statewide list. Dead last was Perry County, which gained nearly six percent for the year but still only finished at just over 21 percent proficient or advanced.

A small handful of systems backslid a point or two, the furthest being Bells City Schools dropping from above 39 percent advanced or proficient to less than 37 percent this year.

Reading

In 3rd–8th grade reading, the state average for the 2010-11 school year was 48.5 percent of students advanced or proficient, a 3.7 percent improvement but still just shy of the state’s 49 percent goal. For the coming school year that goal jumps up to 66 percent.

In Metro Davidson County, almost 40 percent of students rated proficient or advanced in reading – more than a 5 percent increase compared to last year.

Memphis City Schools only inched up about 1.7 percent, with almost 26 percent of students deemed proficient or advanced in reading – dead last in the state. Lake and Haywood counties also rated less than 30 percent of students proficient or advanced in reading.

Topping the list was Williamson County, with more than 77 percent of students proficient or advanced in reading, followed by Maryville City Schools, with more than 73 percent. Both posted better than four percent gains for the 2010-11 school year.

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Daniel Potter contributed to this report.