State-issued report cards show progress of students

Educators gauge districts’ strengths, weaknesses.

By:Eve Collins and vanessa S. Holt
   The school report cards were released last week by the state Department of Education, helping educators gauge a district’s strengths and weaknesses in comparison to other school districts in the state.
   The reports summarize each district’s performance on state proficiency tests and compile information about attendance, suspensions, student-to-teacher ratios and other data and compare it to state averages.
   The proficiency test results were made available last week. Results for other grades will be available at a later date.
   Some administrators were not available for comment on the test scores.
BORDENTOWN

REGIONAL

   
Superintendent John Polomano said the most significant numbers on the report card are the attendance rate of students and staff, the instructional time and test scores.
   "I think we’re pleased with all of those," he said. "The dropout rate continues to be very low. I think these scores are right where they should be for our economic group."
   SAT scores in the district remained almost the same, dropping one point in math to 509 and one point in verbal to 491. The state average is 514 math and 495 verbal. A total of 89 students, 67 percent of those eligible, took the SAT last year.
   At Clara Barton Elementary School, language arts proficiency increased from 60 percent to 80 percent, slightly higher than the state average of 79.2 percent proficiency.
   Advanced proficiency scores in mathematics increased from 20 to 42.9 percent, well above the state average of 30.8 percent.
   Partial proficiency in mathematics decreased from 22.5 to 8.6 percent, while general proficiency was demonstrated by 48.6 percent of students tested.
   Peter Muschal Elementary School scores dropped slightly, but were only slightly below state averages. A total of 5.1 percent achieved advanced proficiency in language arts, a decrease from last year’s 13.4 percent.
   Statewide, however, advanced proficient achievement dropped from 10.6 percent to 7.1 percent of those tested.
   A total of 75.5 percent of students demonstrated general proficiency in language arts.
   Mathematics scores were almost in line with state averages, with 25.5 percent of students demonstrating partial proficiency, compared to the 25.8 percent statewide average. A total of 24.5 percent demonstrated advanced proficiency, down from 32.8 percent last year, and 50 percent scored proficient on the mathematics section of the test.
   Mr. Polomano said the report cards are only one of many factors a school district can use in evaluating progress.
   "I have difficulties with the entire concept of the school report card," remarked Mr. Polomano. "The report card is no substitute for coming to the schools and seeing them on a daily basis."
CHESTERFIELD

   
A total of 265 students were enrolled in the Chesterfield Township Elementary School for the 2001-2002 school year. The average class size was 17.4 students, slightly below the state average of 20.4 students. Student attendance was 95.6 percent.
   Elementary School Proficiency Assessment (ESPA) test scores improved, with 12.5 percent of students receiving advanced proficiency scores in language arts, up from 6.9 percent past year, and 85 percent rating proficient, up from last year’s 79.3 percent.
   A total of 82.5 percent achieved proficiency in math, a dramatic improvement from last year’s 48.3 percent. The number of students who scored partially proficient dropped from 44.8 percent to 12.5 percent.
   "We are very satisfied with our scores," said Chief School Administrator Edward Gibson.
   If the proficient and advanced proficient scores make up less than 75 percent of the school’s total performance on a test, the school is required by the state to formulate a plan to increase those scores, he said.
   "We fell short in math last year and implemented a lot of steps to improve it," said Dr. Gibson. An after-school ESPA program was available to students who wanted to take it, and teachers were able to custom design curriculum for student needs using computer software.
FLORENCE TOWNSHIP

   
According to the report cards, 78 percent of students at Marcella Duffy Elementary School ranked proficient in the arts literacy portion of the ESPA, compared to the state average of 79 percent.
   Almost 22 percent of students ranked partially proficient, which is higher than the state average of almost 14 percent.
   Fifty-two percent of students ranked proficient in the math portion of the test, compared to the state average of 43 percent.
   Almost 42 percent of students ranked partially proficient, much higher than the state average of 26 percent.
MANSFIELD

   
A total of 84 percent of students at John Hydock Elementary School ranked proficient in the arts literacy portion of the ESPA, compared to the state average of 79 percent.
   Another 12.5 percent of students ranked partially proficient, slightly lower than the state average of almost 14 percent.
   Fifty-four percent of students ranked proficient in the math portion of the test, compared to the state average of 43 percent.
   Another 20 percent of students ranked partially proficient, slightly lower than the state average of 26 percent.
NEW HANOVER

   
According to the report cards, 73 percent of students at New Hanover Township Elementary School ranked proficient in the arts literacy portion of the ESPA, compared to the state average of 79 percent.
   Almost 27 percent of students ranked partially proficient, which is higher than the state average of almost 14 percent.
   A total of 73 percent of students ranked proficient in the math portion of the test, compared to the state average of 43 percent.
   Almost 27 percent of students ranked partially proficient, slightly higher than the state average of 26 percent.
NORTH HANOVER

   
A total of 75 percent of students at the Clarence B. Lamb Elementary School ranked proficient in the arts literacy portion of the Elementary School Proficiency Assessment, compared to the state average of 79 percent.
   Almost 25 percent of students ranked partially proficient, which is higher than the state average of almost 14 percent.
   Forty-seven percent of students ranked proficient in the math portion of the test, compared to the state average of 43 percent.
   Almost 39 percent of students ranked partially proficient, much higher than the state average of 26 percent.
   At the Columbia School, almost 83 percent of students ranked proficient in the arts literacy portion of the test, compared to the state average of 79 percent.
   More than 17 percent of students ranked partially proficient, which is higher than the state average of almost 14 percent.
   Forty percent of students ranked proficient in the math portion of the test, compared to the state average of 43 percent.
   Almost 31 percent of students ranked partially proficient, higher than the state average of 26 percent.
SPRINGFIELD

   
The 333 students enrolled in the Springfield Township School District last year continued to perform well on the ESPA tests. A total of 92.7 percent of students tested demonstrated proficiency in language arts, up from 91.2 percent the previous year, but none scored in the advanced proficiency range in the 2001-2002 school year.
   In mathematics, students scored above the state average, with 31.7 demonstrating advanced proficiency, compared to the state average of 30.8 percent. A total of 58.5 percent achieved general proficiency, well above the state average of 43.4 percent and 9.8 scored partially proficient compared to the statewide 25.8 percent.
   "The scores have been consistent," said Superintendent Helena Kosoff, noting the school provides remedial assistance within the district and reaches out to parents, encouraging families to read and practice skills together. The school also recently began a summer school program.
   "We look at the numbers to see how the children have done and what can we do to make it better," Ms. Kosoff said.