Schools

Chappaqua & Bedford Schools Outperform Peers in State Test Scores

The results are the second year's worth after scoring was changed.

Local school districts are analyzing the latest test data released by the state education department on Monday. Overall, the number of students in local districts meeting or exceeding new state proficiency standards rose this year, an encouraging sign after new, tougher state standards

Last year, the state changed the scoring system, aligning its tests to new national standards that are being developed to better prepare students for high school, college and work. The change came after officials reviewed studies relating poor performance on the tests in grades 3 through 8 to lower regents scores—and the need for college remediation down the road. 

For a detailed explanation of the standards, click here.

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Statewide, 61 percent of English test takers met or exceeded proficiency standards (achieving a level 3 or 4) this year, up from 53 percent last year. By contrast, 77 percent achieved the same proficiency level in 2009, before the bar was raised. In math, 63 percent of students met or exceeded standards this year, up from 53 percent last year and down from a high of 86 percent in 2009.

Locally, this year's numbers show overall improvement.

Find out what's happening in Chappaqua-Mount Kiscowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"One thing we do like to look at is the cohort performance—how grade three from last year did in grade four this year," said Drew Patrick, assistant superintendent for education in the Bedford Central School District. "These results are, on the whole, promising. It is important to note that the tests did change in length and quantity of assessed content this year, arguably making them more rigorous."

Each cohort showed improvement across the board in English. For example, 63 percent of third-graders in Bedford last year achieved a level 3 or 4 on the English exam; as a fourth-grade cohort, 69 percent did so. In math, results were more mixed, with more students in grades 4, 5 and 7 meeting or exceeding standards but fewer in 6 and 8 doing so this year.

Patrick said the district would be continuing their analysis of the scores.

In Chappaqua, a majority of grade cohorts showed mixed results, with some improving while others were slightly down. Some grades saw higher scores in one subject and a drop in another.

One notable example of improvement was this past year's fourth-grade cohort, with 91.2 percent scoring a 3 or 4 in English and 95.2 in Math. When they were third graders in 2009-10, the cohort saw 85.3 percent for English and 87.3 for Math. Sixth graders saw similar levels of improvement, with 90.1 percent scoring high in English and 95.2 for Math, versus respective percentages of 85.7 and 84.8 as fifths graders the year before.

Chappaqua Superintendent Lyn McKay, who read the data, noted that tests are just one educational aspect.

"We see test scores as only one measurement," she said. "In Chappaqua, we use multiple indicators. But we are pleased with the results."

New York administers the standardized English Language Arts and math tests each year to students in third through eighth grades. The tests are used to determine whether schools are in compliance with the federal No Child Left Behind law, which mandates that all students be proficient in reading and math by 2014.

For a breakdown of district performance see comparison charts below.

2011 Test Scores by District

Chart indicates the number of students tested, and the percentage of students who achieved levels 1 - 4, followed by the mean score.

Chappaqua 

ELA Number Tested Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Mean Score Grade 3 336 0.9 8.9 75.6 14.6 679 Grade 4 305 1 7.9 80.7 10.5 695 Grade 5 343 1.7 14.9 68.8 14.6 680 Grade 6 335 2.1 7.8 79.7 10.4 675 Grade 7 325 0.6 11.4 77.5 10.5 680 Grade 8 357 1.4 20.4 74.8 3.4 668

 

Math Number Tested
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3 Level 4 Mean Score Grade 3 334 0.3 6 58.4 35.3 703 Grade 4 308 0.3 4.5 32.5 62.7 716 Grade 5 344 1.5 8.4 39.8 50.3 706 Grade 6 335 0.9 3.9 31.3 63.9 709 Grade 7 326 1.8 6.7 29.1 62.3 701 Grade 8 354 1.4 5.6 41.2 51.7 703

Bedford Central

ELA Number Tested Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Mean Score Grade 3 335 6.9 24.8 60 8.4 670 Grade 4 339 3.8 26.8 65.5 3.8 679 Grade 5 324 3.7 22.8 63.3 10.2 677 Grade 6 315 5.4 22.2 62.9 9.5 669 Grade 7 351 4 23.9 64.7 7.4 673 Grade 8 305 5.6 30.8 60 3.6 663

 

Math Number Tested Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Mean Score Grade 3 336 3.9 23.2 52.1 20.8 694 Grade 4 338 2.7 16.6 40.5 40.2 699 Grade 5 328 2.4 11.6 47.9 38.1 699 Grade 6 318 2.8 17 34.3 45.9 698 Grade 7 354 3.7 11.9 31.9 52.5 693 Grade 8 305 4.6 16.1 44.6 34.8

691

 

For the 2010 scores, for our article from last August to read an attached list. A PDF of this year's score is attached to this story.


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