OSPI NEWS RELEASE: State Test Scores Released

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State Test Scores Released

OLYMPIA—September 13, 2018—Results from state tests given this past spring were released Monday by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI).

Called the Smarter Balanced Assessments, the tests were taken in English language arts (ELA) and math by students in 3rd through 8th grade and by high school students. The tests are based on Washington’s learning standards, adopted in 2011. Students in grades 5, 8, and 11 also took new science tests. These tests are based on the Next Generation Science Standards, adopted by Washington state in 2013.

Percent of students meeting standard*

	English language arts					Math					Science
Gr.	2017	2018	Change**				2017	2018	Change**		2018
3	52.2	55.5	3.3			57.5		57.5	0.0
4	54.7	57.3	2.6			53.9		53.8	- 0.1
5	58.2	59.2	1.0			48.3		48.5	0.2		55.2
6	54.9	55.9	1.0			47.8		48.2	0.4
7	59.5	59.6	0.1			49.5		49.0	- 0.5
8	57.7	58.9	1.2			47.3		47.5	0.2		52.9
11											30.3

 

	ELA	Math
Gr.	2018	2018
10	69.5	40.6

* Among students who were expected to test

** Percentage-point difference between 2017 and 2018

Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal said the results this year were mixed. “We’re seeing growth in nearly every student group on ELA, and we’re pleased with that,” he said. “The math results, though, are a bit flatter, and we know there is more work to be done.”

Analysis by OSPI showed gains by some groups of students, such as those receiving special education services and those experiencing poverty. The table below shows whether a group made more gains than the state average for all students in that grade and subject. Specifically, it compares percentage-point gains from 2017 to 2018 between each student group and all students as a whole. For example, among all students, proficiency in third grade ELA increased by 3.3 percentage points (shown above: 55.5 percent in 2018; 52.2 percent in 2017). For African-American students, the increase was 5.4 percentage points (40.4 percent in 2018; 35.0 percent in 2017), which was greater than the all-students group.

Gr.	AmInd-AlaskN	Asian	Black-AfrAm	Hisp-Latino	Lim English	Low Inc	Pac Isldr	Spec’l Ed	Two+ races	White
	E M	E M	E M	E M	E M	E M	E M	E M	E M	E M
3	▼ ▼	— ▼	▲ ▲	▲ —	▼ ▼	▲ —	▼ —	▼ ▲	▲ ▲	▼ —
4	▼ ▲	▼ —	▼ ▼	▲ ▲	▼ ▼	▲ ▲	▲ ▲	▲ ▲	▼ ▼	— —
5	▲ —	— ▲	— ▼	— ▲	▼ ▲	▲ ▲	▲ ▼	▲ ▲	▲ ▲	— —
6	▲ —	— —	▲ ▲	▲ ▲	▼ ▼	▲ ▲	▲ ▲	▲ ▲	— —	— —
7	▼ ▼	▲ ▲	▲ ▼	▲ —	▲ ▲	▲ —	▼ ▼	▲ ▲	▼ ▼	▲ —
8	▼ ▼	▼ ▼	▼ ▼	— —	— —	▲ ▲	▲ ▲	— —	▲ ▲	▲ —

E = ELA; M = math. Dashes (“—“) represent little to no gains (+/- 0.35).

AmInd-AlaskN = American Indian/Alaskan Native, Black-AfrAm = Black/African American, Hisp-Latino = Hispanic/Latino, Lim English = Limited English proficiency, Low Inc = Low income, Pac Isldr = Pacific Islander, Spec’l Ed = Students receiving special education services, and Two+ races = two or more races

“We can see that gaps are closing for many student groups, but the size of the gaps will make it a long process,” Reykdal said. “I’ll be talking to legislators this coming session about actions to specifically address inequities among student groups, especially with students receiving special education services.”

“State test scores continue to be part of how we assess school districts,” he continued. “School improvement plans have been built using this data. But I want to be clear that students are more than a single test score, and our School Improvement Framework includes measures that go beyond test scores. Our focus is on all aspects of student learning, with an emphasis on growth.”

 

 

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Contact

Nathan Olson
OSPI Communications Director
360-725-6015

About OSPI

The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) is the primary agency charged with overseeing K–12 education in Washington state. Led by State Superintendent Chris Reykdal, OSPI works with the state's 295 school districts and nine educational service districts to administer basic education programs and implement education reform on behalf of more than one million public school students.

OSPI provides equal access to all programs and services without discrimination based on sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability.

Questions and complaints of alleged discrimination should be directed to the Equity and Civil Rights Director at 360-725-6162 or P.O. Box 47200, Olympia, WA 98504-7200.