"NATION'S REPORT CARD" TEST SCORES AGAIN SHOW GROWTH
Reading, Math Scores Continue Rise As District Outperforms California And
Large Cities
SAN DIEGO -- San Diego Unified School District students in grades 4 and 8
continued to show learning growth in improved national test scores in
English and mathematics, placing the district ahead of California schools
as a whole and in the top ranks of comparable large urban districts.
District administrators will use the results to focus efforts in key
areas, such as the achievement gap between ethnic and economic groups.
Although narrowed with some ethnic groups, the achievement gap persists.
The test also shows what has been working with students. Proficiency
growth is 35 percent or higher in many areas since 2003. Fourth-grade
students ranked better in mathematics than 11 of the other 20 districts.
The National Assessment of Education Progress, known as "The Nation's
Report Card," began the Trial Urban District Assessment in 2002 with six
districts; San Diego Unified joined in 2003. There are now 21 districts
involved in the testing, which is designed to gauge student achievement on
a national scale. The tests have been taken every-other-year since 2003.
"We're gratified by the serious learning by our students and hard work by
our teachers over the last eight years," said Superintendent Bill Kowba.
"These years have been extremely challenging for our district and
students, with budget cutbacks and leadership turnover. It shows we have a
dedicated workforce that stays focused on what's really important: student
achievement."
The achievement gap continues to be a focus of teachers and
administrators. African-American students lost ground in several areas.
"There were gains in the number of students identified as proficient on
these tough tests almost across the board for all ethnic and economic
groups," said Dr. Nellie Meyer, Deputy Superintendent for Academics.
"However, these tests show us that our concentration on African-American
students with the achievement task force is the right place to focus our
limited resources."
A full report will be made to the board of Education at an upcoming
meeting. More information is online at http://www.nationsreportcard.gov;
the San Diego Unified report is online at http://www.sandi.net/page/1596.
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Note to reporters and editors: Ron Rode, Executive Director of Research
and Evaluation Division, will be available from 11 a.m. to noon,
Wednesday, Dec. 7, for interview. Call (619) 725-7190 to schedule.
Jack Brandais | Communications Department | San Diego Unified School
District | (619) 725-5570 (Desk) | (619) 607-0477 (Cell)
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