District 20 test scores above citywide average

While schools across the city did dismally on the new Common Core English Language Arts (ELA) and math exams, students in District 20 fared considerably better than average.

Overall, fewer than half the New York City students in third through eighth grade got passing scores.

In English language arts, the percentage of students meeting or exceeding the standards dropped 21 points from 47 percent to 26 percent.

In math, the decline was similar, with scores dropping from a 60 percent pass rate to 30 percent meeting or exceeding standards.

In District 20, the grades tested – third through eighth – scored an average 314 points on the math exam – the best in Brooklyn – compared to an average score of 296 for the rest of the city. Neighboring District 21 also did well, scoring in second place, with an average of 311 on the math test.

This is the first time students have taken a test such as this, which was much more rigorous than usual. The tests aim to prepare students better for college and career and are supported by the Obama Administration.

“New York is taking the right step forward in giving our children a true college and career-ready education,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. “Today’s scores are a reflection of more rigorous expectations and higher standards as the assessments are now aligned to mark and measure what it truly takes to prepare students to succeed in our global economy.

“This shift in standards gives teachers room to implement innovative techniques, and gives students an opportunity to emphasize problem-solving and critical thinking,” he went on, stressing, “But none of this will happen overnight. Shifting to college and career ready standards is a long-term investment that will pay off in the years and decades to come.”

When it comes to the ELA test, District 20 students scored an average of 303, while students in District 21 scored 304, the highest score in the borough. Citywide, students scored an average 294 on the ELA exam.

In District 20, English Language Learners (ELL) and Students With Disabilities (SWD) also did better than the rest of the city.

On the ELA test, District 20 ELL students scored an average 6.1 compared to 3.4 citywide. District 20 SWD students scored an average of 8 on the ELA test compared to 5.7 citywide.

On the math test, District 20 ELL students scored an average of 26.4 compared to 11.4 citywide. District 20 SWD students scored an average of 14.8 on the math test, compared to 8.4 citywide.

Laurie Windsor, president of District 20’s Community Education Council, told this paper that this isn’t the first time that her district has scored head and shoulders above the rest of the borough. She attributed the success to the area’s tight knit community.

“I think it’s a combination of our strong administrative staff, dedicated principals and assistant principals, teachers, involved parents, elected officials and community based organizations,” she said. “It’s a real tie, a sense of ownership, and that really is a big difference between us and a lot of other districts.”

Windsor also noted the high number of students that are not native English speakers in District 20.

“Our immigrant population has exploded. There are so many English learners, but yet it doesn’t matter,” she said. “We still rise to the occasion and keep it together.”

Mayor Michael Bloomberg said that the lower grades seen across the borough were expected and were no cause for alarm.

“We are confident that they will rise to this challenge – and it’s encouraging that our students are out-performing their peers in the other cities around the state,” Bloomberg contended. “In addition, they are closing the gap with students in the rest of the state, something few people thought possible a decade ago. The new Common Core curriculum, as it is phased in, will empower students to achieve at higher levels in the years ahead and graduate high school ready for college and careers.”

The Common Core curriculum will continue to be rolled out in schools citywide during the upcoming school year.

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.