By ANTHONY BOTTAN
The district, which enrolled 1,253 students, saw high numbers in standardized test results in a range of grades, and passing rates in nearly all subjects increased. Ninety percent of all students passed the state English test, and 93 percent passed the Math A exam, an increase of nine percent from the year before.
In the fourth grade, more than 85 percent of students passed the math and English state tests, though those numbers dropped slightly for eighth graders, at 81 percent and 74 percent, respectively. Superintendent Dr. Roseanne Melucci said she hopes to use the data from the report card to strengthen areas where students are having more trouble. "We are now using the 2007-2008 data for the school year to identify areas of strength and areas where our students are challenged," Melucci said. "We will continue to review all of the data and make modifications in curriculum and instruction as needed."
At East Rockaway High School, 90 percent of students passed the English Regents and 89 percent passed the Math Regents. Ninety-two percent of students passed the science Regents, while 89 percent passed the U.S. history and government Regents.
The only subjects where East Rockaway students seemed to struggle were in the earth science and chemistry Regents, where there was a dramatic drop-off in student passing rates, down to 52 percent in the chemistry Regents. In 2005-2006, 73 percent of students passed. Melucci said that improvements have been made in those areas, and it is evidenced by the June 2008 chemistry and earth science Regents results. "The 2006-2007 report card showed some challenges in earth science and chemistry," Melucci said. "The results in June 2008 showed improvement in both of these content areas."
In all, East Rockaway graduated 94 percent of its students, with 89 percent graduating with a Regents diploma. The high school did lose four students who dropped out, when last year, there weren't any. However, the four students who dropped out only accounted for one percent of students. Ninety-eight percent of graduated students enrolled in college, with 68 percent enrolled in a four-year school and 38 percent enrolled in a two-year school.
