By MIKE CAPUTO
This year's numbers did not indicate a significant overall improvement for District 15 test-takers in English Language Arts or math, and Superintendent Dr. John Fitzsimons took a realistic approach as he assessed the results. "We are certainly not slipping," Fitzsimons said. "We still think we can do better."
The state divides scores into four categories. Students who score on Levels 1 and 2 do not meet the state's standards, and are required to receive academic intervention services. Students who score at Level 3 are considered to be meeting the standards, while Level 4 scorers reflect performance that exceeds the standards.
The numbers, released late last month, show that Lawrence still lags behind other county districts when it comes to meeting the state standards. Statistics show that Lawrence has a number of students who score at Level 3, but lacks Level 4 scorers and still has many students on Levels 1 and 2. This pattern is most pronounced among middle school students - Fitzsimons refers to it as a "middle school slump" - and the administration plans to attack the problem with a proactive approach.
"We are still puzzled, as is everybody, why it seems to be a dip from elementary to middle and then [scores] come back up on the high school [level]," said Fitzsimons, who emphasized that the slump can be seen nationwide.
Although students in grades six through eight tend to lag behind in test scores, Lawrence Middle School did improve its performance over 2007. In Grades six and seven, nearly 10 percent more students reached Levels 3 and 4 in this year's ELA exams, while grade 8 stayed about the same.
According to the state results, none of the middle school grades had passing rates of better than 80 percent in math or ELA. On the elementary level, in contrast, there were only two instances where the passing rate fell below 80 percent.
Fitzsimons said the administration would be bringing in math and ELA consultants to provide additional support and strategies for teachers of those subjects. He also stressed the implementation of a new eight-period school day at the middle school beginning in September. Although the schedule drew criticism from teachers, Fitzsimons said it would significantly increase instructional time without adding school days, and eventually reduce class size.
"A significant increase in instructional time ought to do something for us," Fitzsimons said.
School officials have noted that comparisons with county averages may not be the best tool for measuring success in District 15. In May, district principals and curriculum supervisors explained to an audience of parents and school board members that Lawrence's unique demographic makeup sets it apart from most Nassau County schools, especially when it comes to the ELA and math test results.
Hewlett-Woodmere
School District 14
On the east side of the Five Towns, in Hewlett-Woodmere, ELA scores were near or above county averages.
With the exception of the eighth grade ELA exam, at least 84 percent of students in grades three through eight achieved passing grades on the tests. The county's average passing rate on the eighth grade ELA was 76 percent, and nearly 73 percent of Hewlett-Woodmere eighth-graders met the state standards.
Despite the importance of the state exams, the district has emphasized the importance of its own assessments of individual and class-wide performance. "Classroom, grade-level and school-wide local assessments provide multiple opportunities to evaluate student learning," said Dr. Joyce Bisso, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. "The ongoing dialogue among the professional team, students and parents is invaluable in the process of meeting the needs of the individual learner. Single-event standardized tests, the results of which are reported several months after the administration of the tests, do not provide such opportunities."
Passing rates
Nassau County average
Grade ELA Math
3 85 86
4 91 94
5 90 93
6 84 91
7 83 91
8 76 78
Hewlett-Woodmere
School District
Grade ELA Math
3 86 99
4 85 91
5 90 93
6 84 94
7 90 93
8 72 87
Lawrence School District
Grade ELA Math
3 72 91
4 79 82
5 84 84
6 70 76
7 71 80
8 63 68
These are the percentages of students at levels 3 and 4. Statistics from the New York State Department of Education Web site, nysed.gov.
Comments about this story? Mcaputo@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 201.
