South Brunswick students rate well in math performance according to the 2004-2005 state School report cards.
By: Marisa Maldonado
According to the 2004-05 state School Report Cards, math scores rose in almost every grade level that took state-standardized tests last year, while language arts scores remained steady.
Joanne Kerekes, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, said part of the credit for increased scores belongs to the district’s two-year review of its math curriculum. Although the curriculum will not be implemented until September, she said the review already has prompted the district to teach material found in standardized tests.
"We looked at it from a variety of angles," Ms. Kerekes said. "When you give that kind of attention and time to a curriculum, because you’re paying such attention to it, things begin to move and change."
Almost each of the four grades tested showed signs of improvement in math. More third-graders 43.2 percent as opposed to 2004’s 39.7 percent scored in the advanced level of the New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge’s math section. About 48 percent of students achieved proficiency, down from 51.5 percent in 2004, and about the same amount of students ranked as partially proficient 9.3 percent last year as opposed to 8.8 percent in 2004. Statewide 54 percent were proficient, 18 percent were partially proficient and 29 percent were advanced.
Fourth-grade scores on the math section of the NJ ASK shot up from last year, with 41.6 percent ranking in the advanced category, compared to 29 percent in 2004. In a drastic drop from 2004, 11 percent of students tested partially proficient, almost half the number in that category in the 2003-04 test. About the same number of students 47.4 percent tested proficient. Statewide 49 percent of students were proficient, 20 percent were partially proficient and 32 percent were advanced.
Eighth-grade students’ math scores were the only ones to decline. About 48 percent ranked as proficient, 27.2 percent were advanced, and 25 percent were partially proficient on the Grade Eight Proficiency Assessment. Last year, 48 percent were proficient, 32 percent reached the advanced level and 21 percent were partially proficient. Statewide in 2005, 44 percent were proficient, 38 percent were partially proficient and 19 percent were advanced.
Math scores increased dramatically among juniors at South Brunswick High School taking the High School Proficiency Assessment as well with 43 percent of students achieving advanced proficiency, up from last year’s 31 percent. Forty-two percent of juniors scored proficient, and 14 percent of students compared to 20 percent the previous year were partially proficient. Statewide in 2005, 47 percent were proficient, 25 percent were partially proficient and 28 percent were advanced.
Superintendent Gary McCartney was encouraged by the district’s results, but he said the results do not represent the progress of the same children who took the test the prior year.
"We have a tendency in the business to compare this year’s fourth-graders with last year’s fourth-graders," he said. "That’s one of the flaws of the report card. You have a tendency to say the scores are up.
"In effect, all we can really say about those math scores is that those math scores are different."
Nevertheless, he was happy with the district’s performance, which also includes steady results in language arts.
Third-grade language arts scores were relatively steady, with about 81 percent of those tested last year achieving proficiency, compared to 83 percent in 2004. About 7 percent of students scored in the advanced category and 9.3 percent were found to be partially proficient. Statewide 79 percent were proficient, 17 percent were partially proficient and 4 percent were advanced.
Language arts scores among fourth- graders remained fairly steady, with 82.3 percent of students ranking as proficient, 6.4 percent advanced and 11.3 percent partially proficient. Last year 77 percent were proficient, 18 percent were partially proficient and 4 percent were advanced.
Language arts scores on the Grade Eight Proficiency Assessment remained steady with 74 percent scoring as proficient, 14 percent hitting the advanced mark and 12 percent ranking partially proficient. Statewide 64 percent were proficient, 28 percent were partially proficient and 8 percent were advanced.
Science scores also were fairly steady among eighth-graders, with 57 percent achieving proficiency, 29 percent scoring in the advanced category and 13 percent hitting the partially proficient mark. Statewide 61 percent of eighth-graders were proficient, 26 percent were advanced and 12 percent were partially proficient. Statewide 53 percent were proficient, 23 percent were partially proficient and 24 percent were advanced.
At the high school, 62 percent of students were proficient in language arts, 7 percent were partially proficient and 31 percent were advanced. Statewide 64 percent were proficient, 17 percent were partially proficient and 20 percent were advanced.
School-by-school score breakdowns are as follows.
Brooks Crossing School
Third-grade language: 77 percent proficient, 17 percent partially proficient, 6 percent advanced.
Third-grade math: 46 percent proficient, 11 percent partially proficient, 44 percent advanced.
Fourth-grade language: 82 percent proficient, 12 percent partially proficient, 6 percent advanced.
Fourth-grade math: 48 percent proficient, 13 percent partially proficient, 38 percent advanced.
Fourth-grade science: 69 percent proficient, 11 percent partially proficient, 20 percent advanced.
Brunswick Acres School
Third-grade language: 88 percent proficient, 9 percent partially proficient, 2 percent advanced.
Third-grade math: 51 percent proficient, 12 percent partially proficient, 38 percent advanced.
Fourth-grade language: 81 percent proficient, 12 percent partially proficient, 7 percent advanced.
Fourth-grade math: 50 percent proficient, 10 percent partially proficient, 40 percent advanced.
Fourth-grade science: 71 percent proficient, 11 percent partially proficient, 18 percent advanced.
Cambridge School
Third-grade language: 84 percent proficient, 6 percent partially proficient, 11 percent advanced.
Third-grade math: 30 percent proficient, 5 percent partially proficient, 65 percent advanced.
Fourth-grade language: 82 percent proficient, 9 percent partially proficient, 10 percent advanced.
Fourth-grade math: 35 percent proficient, 7 percent partially proficient, 58 percent advanced.
Fourth-grade science: 66 percent proficient, 8 percent partially proficient, 25 percent advanced.
Constable School
Third-grade language: 86 percent proficient, 10 percent partially proficient, 3 percent advanced.
Third-grade math: 46 percent proficient, 9 percent partially proficient, 46 percent advanced.
Fourth-grade language: 80 percent proficient, 14 percent partially proficient, 6 percent advanced.
Fourth-grade math: 49 percent proficient, 4 percent partially proficient, 47 percent advanced.
Fourth-grade science: 63 percent proficient, 12 percent partially proficient, 26 percent advanced.
Greenbrook School
Third-grade language: 80 percent proficient, 12 percent partially proficient, 9 percent advanced.
Third-grade math: 54 percent proficient, 9 percent partially proficient, 37 percent advanced.
Fourth-grade language: 81 percent proficient, 15 percent partially proficient, 4 percent advanced.
Fourth-grade math: 42 percent proficient, 8 percent partially proficient, 50 percent advanced.
Fourth-grade science: 68 percent proficient, 18 percent partially proficient, 14 percent advanced.
Indian Fields School
Third-grade language: 79 percent proficient, 13 percent partially proficient, 8 percent advanced.
Third-grade math: 58 percent proficient, 8 percent partially proficient, 33 percent advanced.
Fourth-grade language: 82 percent proficient, 13 percent partially proficient, 5 percent advanced.
Fourth-grade math: 55 percent proficient, 15 percent partially proficient, 29 percent advanced.
Fourth-grade science: 68 percent proficient, 11 percent partially proficient, 22 percent advanced.
Monmouth Junction School
Third-grade language: 75 percent proficient, 17 percent partially proficient, 8 percent advanced.
Third-grade math: 47 percent proficient, 12 percent partially proficient, 41 percent advanced.
Fourth-grade language: 87 percent proficient, 6 percent partially proficient, 7 percent advanced.
Fourth-grade math: 47 percent proficient, 12 percent partially proficient, 41 percent advanced.
Fourth-grade science: 60 percent proficient, 12 percent partially proficient, 28 percent advanced.
Crossroads North
Eighth-grade language: 73 percent proficient, 12 percent partially proficient, 15 percent advanced.
Eighth-grade math: 47 percent proficient, 26 percent partially proficient, 27 percent advanced.
Eighth-grade science: 58 percent proficient, 13 percent partially proficient, 29 percent advanced.
Crossroads South
Eighth-grade language: 75 percent proficient, 11 percent partially proficient, 14 percent advanced.
Eighth-grade math: 48 percent proficient, 24 percent partially proficient, 28 percent advanced.
Eighth-grade science: 57 percent proficient, 14 percent partially proficient, 30 percent advanced.
South Brunswick High School
Eleventh-grade language: 62 percent proficient, 7 percent partially proficient, 31 percent advanced.
Eleventh-grade math: 42 percent proficient, 14 percent partially proficient, 44 percent advanced.