State test scores released: Walla Walla Public Schools state science test scores above state average

Walla Walla Public Schools state science test scores above state average
Walla Walla High school writing scores top 90 percent

WALLA WALLA - Results of the Spring 2012 state testing were released by Office of the Superintendent for Public Instruction (OSPI) Wednesday, August 29. Walla Walla Public Schools showed positive trends in elementary reading, math and science and results for high school assessments were above the state average in all but one subject.

WWPS 5th grade Science scores were above the State average for the second year in a row, with both Blue Ridge and Prospect Point Elementary results at or above 87 percent. Especially notable is Blue Ridge's improvement from only 11% in 2010. Prospect Point Elementary posted scores near or above the state average in all tested areas and grade levels.

"Third and fifth grade reading scores were also above the state average in several elementary schools in the district, and improved over last year's performance in most, reflecting the district's emphasis on early, intensive intervention.," said Maria Garcia, District Assessment and Response to Intervention coordinator.

Math in 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 8th grades also showed improvement over last year's performance across much of the district, with Blue Ridge again highlighted. Blue Ridge has posted significant improvement over the past two years at all three tested grade levels.

The greatest improvement has been seen in 4th grade math at Blue Ridge, with a 2010 pass rate of 8% compared to 63% for this year. Prospect Point 5th grade math has also made dramatic improvement, from 38% two years ago to over 73% this year.

"We've had a significant investment in math curriculum and instruction over the past several years and this focus is paying off," Garcia said. "Also, we are now better equipped to identify struggling students in math early, so we can provide needed interventions and prevent them from falling further behind."

At the high school level, WWPS continues to post results in most tested areas above the state average, with Walla Walla High School students passing the Reading and Writing HSPE at 85.7% and 90.2% respectively. Algebra students across the district passed the End of Course exam at 77%, with Geometry only slightly lower at 74.8%.

"Of particular note is the performance of Wa-Hi students on the new Biology End of Course exam which was given for the first time last spring, but is not a graduation requirement until 2015," Garcia said. Seventy-three percent of 10th graders passed the test, which is higher than the state average of 64.1%, and out performs a number of large high schools across the state."

Wa-Hi continues to vastly outperform the state graduation rate with an impressive 92% on-time rate. The state graduation rate is 76.6 percent.

"Lincoln High School also continues to make great strides with an extended graduation rate of 69.7% for the Class of 2010 -- up from 13.4% just four years ago," Garcia said. "This is a significant accomplishment for Lincoln High School students as many of them are overcoming adverse life experiences."

For a complete listing of Walla Walla Public Schools test scores, visit the district web site (www.wwps.org) and click on test results.

Each year, Washington state students in grades 3-8 are assessed in the Spring using the Measures of Student Progress (MSP) in reading and math, with writing assessed only in grades 4 and 7, and science in grades 5 and 8.

Students enrolled in Algebra or Geometry courses take End of Course exams (debuted in the 2010-11 school year), and students in grade 10 take the High School Proficiency Exam (HSPE) in reading and writing. Last Spring for the first time, 10th graders took a Biology End of Course exam. Passing the HSPE and the math End of Course exams is required for graduation, and passing the Biology End of Course exam is scheduled to become a graduation requirement for students in the Class of 2015.

In his press conference announcing the results, State Superintendent Randy Dorn said students across the state continue to show improvement. Walla Walla Public Schools' results indicate the district has made improvement in some subject areas and grade levels, and has room to grow in others.