BOE hears report on CRCT

Gibney-Sherman said all schools showed improvement in CRCT testing for grades 3, 4 and 5, with the greatest area of improvement being in mathematics and social studies. Of particular note, she said, was that all students in grades 3, 4, and 5 at Comer had a passing rate of 85 percent or better, while students in the same grades at Ila had a passing rate of 90 percent or better.

Several areas of testing showed improvement by 10 percentage points or better, Gibney-Sherman noted, including third grade math scores at Colbert (10%) and Ila (13%), fourth grade math scores at Hull-Sanford (19%) and fifth grade math scores at all five elementary schools. Science scores also improved by more than 10 percent in fourth grade at Colbert (15%) and fifth grade at Danielsville (13%). Social studies scores were up by at least ten percent at Colbert (14%) and Comer (10%).

“These are some scores to be proud of,” Gibney-Sherman said.

She said math continues to be the greatest area of concern at all schools in the county, and that she believes the extra attention is paying off.

“Our folks were all over the math,” she said. “And this shows in their scores.”

In writing scores, Dr. Sherman said all elementary schools performed at or above the state and RESA average for grades 5 and 8 for the 2009, 2010 and 2011.

For this year, she noted that there was also significant improvement in fifth grade writing scores at Danielsville (20 points), Ila (18 points) and Hull-Sanford (6 points).

“This is a reflection of good hard work,” she said.