Test results show little change

Preliminary ISTEP results from the glitch-plagued spring exams showed Jay County’s scores down one-tenth of one percent.
Results show 80.9 percent of Jay Schools students taking the ISTEP exam passed both the language and math portions of the test. That’s down slightly from 81 percent in 2012.
“We were really pleased with the results,” said Tim Long, superintendent of Jay Schools. “The performance was level to better throughout the corporation. …
“It’s just reinforcing the fact that Jay Schools are focused on achievement and performance.”
Statewide, the Indiana Department of Education said 79.5 percent of students passed the language arts section and 82.7 percent passed the math section.
State School Superintendent Glenda Ritz told The Associated Press she was pleased with the results despite the computer problems during the tests.
“Despite considerable difficulties, our students improved their overall performance yet again,” she said.
Statewide, 76.2 percent of eighth graders passed the English/language arts part of the test, while 81.2 percent passed math. For seventh graders, 74.2 percent passed language and 80.2 percent passed math. In sixth grade, 77.7 percent passed the language portion and 84 percent passed math. In fifth grade, 79.2 percent passed the language portion and 87 percent passed math.
Statewide results for fourth grade showed 84.3 percent passing language and 83.5 percent passing math. And in third grade, 85.2 percent passed the language portion and 79.6 percent passed math.
Long noted two elementary schools in Jay County that turned in strong efforts, and praised improvements made at the middle-school level.
“Bloomfield has always been a high performer,” said Long. “East Elementary this year was exceptionally high.
“Both middle schools performed very well. Across the district we’re used to higher numbers and we were able to maintain those and surpass some of them.
“I’m really proud of the middle schools for the work that they’ve done. They’ve increased in some areas that we were looking for them to improve on. The teachers and students have really worked hard.”
Here’s a school-by-school breakdown for Jay Schools:
At Bloomfield Elementary School, 97.5 percent of third graders passed the language portion and 100 percent passed the math section. Both sections were passed by 97.5 percent of the students. In fourth grade, 90.9 percent passed the language section, 93.9 percent passed math, and 87.9 percent passed both. In fifth grade, 87.5 percent passed the language section, 97.5 percent passed math, and 89.7 passed both.
At Redkey Elementary School, 71.4 percent of third graders passed the language portion and 61.9 percent passed the math section. Both sections were passed by 47.6 percent of the students. In fourth grade, 90.3 percent passed the language section, 80.6 percent passed math, and 80.6 percent passed both. In fifth grade, 85.7 percent passed the language section, 89.3 percent passed math, and 82.1 percent passed both.
At Pennville Elementary School, 81.3 percent of third graders passed the language portion and 68.8 percent passed the math section. Both sections were passed by 68.8 percent. In fourth grade, 93.8 percent passed the language section, 94.1 percent passed math, and 93.8 percent passed both. In fifth grade, 80 percent passed the language section, 90 percent passed math, and 70 percent passed both.
At General Shanks Elementary School, 79.6 percent of third graders passed the language portion and 79.2 percent passed the math section. Both sections were passed by 70.8 percent. In fourth grade, 80.5 percent passed the language section, 90.2 percent passed math, and 80.5 percent passed both. In fifth grade, 71.4 percent passed the language section, 87.5 percent passed math, and 66.1 percent passed both.
At Judge Haynes Elementary School, 87.2 percent of third graders passed the language portion and 80.9 percent passed the math section. Both sections were passed by 76.6 percent. In fourth grade, 85.7 percent passed the language section, 90.9 percent passed math, and 81.8 percent passed both. In fifth grade, 90 percent passed the language section, 90.2 percent passed math, and 87.5 percent passed both.
At East Elementary School, 95.6 percent of third graders passed the language portion and 97.8 percent passed the math section. Both sections were passed by 93.3 percent. In fourth grade, 96.8 percent passed the language section, 100 percent passed math, and 96.8 percent passed both. In fifth grade, 94.4 percent passed the language section, 98.2 percent passed math, and 94.4 percent passed both.
At Westlawn Elementary School, 84.4 percent of third graders passed the language portion and 90.6 percent passed the math section. Both sections were passed by 84.4 percent. In fourth grade, 89.2 percent passed the language section, 91.9 percent passed math, and 83.8 percent passed both. In fifth grade, 86.5 percent passed the math section, 91.9 percent passed math, and 81.1 percent passed both.
At East Jay Middle School, 85.3 percent of sixth graders passed the language portion and 91 percent passed the math section. Both sections were passed by 81.9 percent. In seventh grade, 79.8 percent passed the language section, 90.8 percent passed math, and 76.6 percent passed both. In eighth grade, 82.3 percent passed the language section, 92.8 percent passed math, and 81.7 percent passed both.
At West Jay Middle School, 75.3 percent of sixth graders passed the language portion and 89.5 percent passed the math section. Both sections were passed by 71.8 percent. In seventh grade, 82.4 percent passed the language section, 91.1 percent passed math, and 78.2 percent passed both. In eighth grade, 84.3 percent passed the language section, 95.2 percent passed math, and 83.1 percent passed both.[[In-content Ad]]