2010 State Test Scores Released: Slow But Steady Progress
August 20, 2010
Jackson – The Mississippi Department of Education released the state assessment results today, giving parents, businesses and communities an opportunity to review the academic progress of schools and gauge performance on more rigorous assessments.
The Mississippi Curriculum Test, Second Edition (MCT2) is given to students in grades 3 through 8 in Language Arts and Mathematics. The MCT2 was first implemented in 2007-08 to assess the state's more rigorous curriculum standards for language arts and mathematics. The revised curriculum standards are based on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and other national standards. “I am pleased that we continue to make incremental progress by students that score proficient and above, particularly grades 5 through 8 in mathematics,” state superintendent of education Dr. Tom Burnham said. “Language arts is showing slow but steady progress in grades 3 through 7.”
Students in grades 5 and 8 are also given a science test. 45 percent of students in grade 5 scored proficient and above, while 43 percent of students in grade 8 scored proficient and above.
High school students are assessed with the Subject Area Testing Program (SATP) on four content areas: algebra I, biology I, English II (both a multiple choice assessment and writing assessment) and U.S. history. Students must earn a passing score on each test (with the exception of the writing assessment) to be eligible for graduation. The test results listed below represent first-time test takers. Students have multiple opportunities to earn a passing score on the SATP throughout their high school experience.
Results of the SATP:
U.S. history – Old Content 93.0 percent passing
biology – Old Content 86.2 percent passing
algebra I – New Content 79.6 percent passing
English II – New Content 68.0 percent passing
Plans are in place to phase in a more rigorous content and assessment for algebra I and biology.
“Assessments results show that our students are being challenged with a more rigorous content and assessments. As we continue to prepare our children academically, they will be ready to meet the high expectations that our schools and communities have set for them and better prepare them for the demands of a global economy,” Burnham added.
The assessment results will help determine performance classifications for schools and districts using the accountability model. Schools will be classified from highest to lowest: Star School , High Performing, Successful, Academic Watch, Low Performing, At-Risk of Failing and Failing. The 2010 school and district performance classifications will be released in September. To view test results, go to www.mde.k12.ms.us/ors/ and click on search for State, district or school data. | 
