Mixed results in Common Core scores

The Department of Education released test scores for Year 2 of Common Core testing last week, and local students’ scores reflect those of the rest of the state: gains in some areas and fractional downturns in others.

According to the state’s report, released on Aug. 14, 62 percent of Oceanside’s fourth-graders met or exceeded the state standard in math, up from 46.3 percent in 2013. Only 33 percent of Oceanside eighth-graders, however, passed the math test, down from 35.8 percent last year.

The news regarding Oceanside’s English scores was more disappointing: 43 percent of fourth-graders passed the state test, down from 43.1 percent last year. In the eighth grade, 41 percent did so, a decline from last year’s 46.5 percent.

In Island Park, 64 percent of fourth-graders passed the math exam, up from 45.9 percent last year. Likewise, 64 percent of fourth-graders passed the English test, an improvement from 42.9 percent last year. ELA scores among Island Park eighth-graders improved slightly as well: 42 percent passed, compared with 39.2 percent a year ago. There was no data available for eighth grade math scores for Island Park.

Statewide, 36 percent of all students passed the math exam, up from 31 percent last year, and 31 percent passed the English exam, down one-tenth of a percentage point from 2013.

On Long Island, 43.4 percent of students passed the math exam, up from 37.5 percent last year, but just 36.8 percent passed the English test, down from 39.6 percent.

“I’m somewhat disappointed in some instances and very happy in others,” said Island Park’s superintendent of schools, Dr. Rosmarie Bovino, who added that she would have further comment after reviewing the data.

Sandie Schoell, an Oceanside Board of Education trustee, said that the results indicate a poorly written test. “The data is only good enough to line a bird cage,” Schoell said. “I wouldn’t evaluate a teacher or a student based on those test results.”

She claimed that the tests are developmentally inappropriate and ambiguous. “They are writing tests several grade levels above the masses,” she said.