Pupils show improvement

Aiken County reports a significant increase over last year score on statewide achievement test
Web posted Wednesday, November 1, 2000

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 How the county scored

By Rick Green
South Carolina Bureau

AIKEN - Aiken County pupils have shown significant improvements over last year on a statewide achievement test.

Scores were released Tuesday for the second year of the Palmetto Achievement Challenge Test, which is administered to more than 300,000 pupils in grades three through eight.

In Columbia, state Superintendent of Education Inez Tenenbaum said gains were reported in all grades, subjects and demographic groups.

The test measures pupil progress toward the state's curriculum standards in English language arts and mathematics.

Frank Roberson, associate superintendent for instructional services in Aiken County, said about 75 percent of the county's 10,000 pupils met the minimum requirements for passing the English and math portions of the test.

``These results have a direct relationship to effective teaching,'' Dr. Roberson said. ``We point directly to our teachers for rising to the occasion to prepare children in Aiken County for this most challenging test.''

Dr. Roberson said Aiken County's performance was above the state level.

``The state's performance range (by grade) was 58.6 percent to 69.0 percent in mathematics and 64.9 percent to 74.4 percent in English language arts,'' he said. ``Aiken County's range was 66.8 percent to 73.6 percent in mathematics and 68.7 percent to 77.4 percent in English language arts.''

Eighth-grade math scores showed the largest increase, rising from 63.5 percent achieving at least the basic level in 1999 to 72.7 percent making the grade this year.

``Any difference that is equal to or greater than three is considered to be a significant improvement over the previous year's score,'' Dr. Roberson said. ``It is pleasing to note as reflected in the data that significant improvements were made in every grade level tested and in every subject tested.''

Dr. Roberson said many Aiken County schools had ``well over 90 percent of their students meeting standard.''

In some schools, increases of 20 percentage points or more were achieved.

He added that there were significant increases in the numbers of pupils moving from a basic level of achievement to proficient or advanced levels, which are higher levels of accomplishment.

The goal for the county, he said, is to have a majority of its pupils performing at or above the proficient level within three years.

Dr. Roberson also said parents should be congratulated for helping their pupils with homework and monitoring their progress.

In November 2001, PACT scores will be key components in annual report cards that will rate schools and districts as excellent, good, average, below average or unsatisfactory. Under the Education Accountability Act of 1998, the state must provide a menu of technical assistance services to schools and districts that have unsatisfactory ratings.

How the county scored

Percentage of Aiken County pupils scoring at the ``basic'' level or above in mathematics:

Eighth grade:

2000: 72.7

1999: 63.5

Seventh grade:

2000: 72.3

1999: 64.4

Sixth grade:

2000: 66.8

1999: 60.1

Fifth grade:

2000: 67.9

1999: 62.2

Fourth grade:

2000: 67.6

1999: 64.4

Third grade:

2000: 73.6

1999: 68.0

Percentage of Aiken County pupils scoring at the ``basic'' level or above in English language arts:

Eight grade:

2000: 72.2

1999: 68.6

Seventh grade:

2000: 72.9

1999: 69.6

Sixth grade:

2000: 68.7

1999: 66.1

Fifth grade:

2000: 77.1

1999: 72.0

Fourth grade:

2000: 77.0

1999: 71.7

Third grade:

2000: 77.4

1999: 72.1

Reach Rick Green at (803) 279-6895 or scbureau@augustachronicle.com.

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