Results of federal reading, math tests are revealed

The results of the Criterion-Referenced Competentcy Test were revealed by school officials at a Tuesday board meeting.

Designed to end social promotion, the test is a No Child Left Behind-mandated exam. In 2004, third-graders had to pass the reading portion of the test to advance to fourth grade. This year, the state included fifth-graders, who must pass both reading and math portions of the standardized test to get into middle school.

Ninety-seven percent of the county's third-graders passed the reading portion of the CRCT administered in the spring. Of the 3 percent of third-graders who failed, 25 retook the exam in June, after a summer remedial program, and 12 passed.

All but eight of 24 third-graders passed the retest in June 2004.

About 95 percent of fifth-graders met or exceeded the reading standards, and 92 percent passed math.

Forty-one fifth-graders retook the reading portion of the test and 24 passed. A much higher number of fifth-graders retaking the math portion passed - 62 of 88.

At the board meeting, Superintendent Tommy Price voiced concerns about middle school math scores on the test.

Nineteen percent of students in the sixth and eighth grades failed the math test, and 13 percent of seventh-graders failed.

"We've got to be concerned," Price said.

Assistant Superintendent Deborah Franklin said she was generally pleased with the test results, saying the system made progress in all but a few areas. However, she also expressed concern about middle school math scores.

"We're going to take these scores, break them down, analyze them and pinpoint the trouble areas," she said. "Then we'll work with teachers in coming up with strategies."

In the coming school year, eighth-graders will have to pass reading and math portions of the CRCT to advance to high school.