By Jennifer Marino
In math, the eighth grade improved from 78 percent at levels three and four last year to 86 percent at those levels this year. Assistant Superintendent Delia Garrity called these numbers remarkable, since Rockville Centre eighth-graders follow a Regents curriculum, not one designed for students taking the state assessment.
Fourth-graders also did well on the assessments, with 98.5 percent scoring at levels three and four in math, up from 94 percent last year. Their performance dropped only slightly in English Language Arts, from 95 percent to 94 percent this year.
The assessments are graded on four levels. Level four shows a superior knowledge and consistent understanding of the subject, level three shows general understanding, level two shows partial understanding and level one shows minimal understanding. Students in level one receive academic intervention services, according to Garrity. Levels three and four are what would be considered passing.
As usual, the Rockville Centre School DistrictÕs scores were much higher than the New York state average. About half of the stateÕs eighth-graders score at levels one and two, and the other half at levels three and four. In fourth grade, statewide scores are better. About 78 percent score three or four in math and 64 percent score three or four in English Language Arts.
The school district also tested in grades two, three, five, six and seven. Students were given the Test of New York State Standards (TONYSS) in English Language Arts and math. This testing will be mandated by the No Child Left Behind Act in the 2004-05 school year. Doing the testing within the district this year will help prepare teachers and students for next year.
In second grade, 90 percent of students scored three or four in math and English Language Arts. Seventy-seven percent of third-graders scored three or four in ELA, and 91 percent scored three or four in math. In fifth grade, 84 percent of students scored at the top two levels in ELA, and 83 percent in math. In grade six, 70 percent were at levels three and four in ELA, and 54 percent were at those levels in math. Only the ELA scores were released for seventh-graders, and 77 percent of them scored three or four.
