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Willcox Schools AIMS scores show varied results
By Ainslee S. Wittig/Arizona Range News
"I think we have places we're shining and places where we need to do some work," said Willcox Schools Superintendent Dr. Donald Roberts, on the spring Arizona's Instrument to Measure Standards (AIMS) test results.
"Overall, I'm pleased the scores are where they are. We have very diverse demographics, racially and socio-economically," he said.
"Based on our socio-economic status - we have 75 to 80 percent of our kids on free or reduced lunches - and our language proficiency, we have excellent scores. We're far ahead of districts in the state that don't have these elements. Am I satisfied with the scores? No. We won't be satisfied until every student is working to full potential," Roberts said.
Willcox High School
In the spring's 10th grade, 104 students tested in math with a mean scale score (Mean SS) of 699 (statewide Mean SS was 705). Thirty percent did not meet standards. Thirty-two percent did not meet standards statewide.
In reading, 108 students tested, with a Mean SS of 701 (state Mean SS was 705). Twenty-three percent did not meet standards (or pass the requirement), while statewide 27 percent did not pass.
In writing, 106 students tested with a Mean SS of 691 (state Mean SS was 702). Thirty-five percent did not pass. Statewide, 25 percent did not pass.
In the 11th and 12th grades, 10 or fewer students took the tests since most students have already passed the test in 10th or 11th grades. The ninth grade does not take the AIMS.
Willcox Middle School
In the spring's eighth grade, 105 students tested in math with a Mean SS of 550 (statewide Mean SS was 559). Forty-two percent did not meet standards. Thirty-eight percent did not meet standards statewide.
In reading, 106 students tested, with a Mean SS of 524 (state Mean SS was 523). Thirty-four percent did not meet standards, while statewide 35 percent did not pass.
In writing, 106 students tested, with a Mean SS of 552 (state Mean SS was 554). Twenty-six percent did not pass, while statewide 25 percent did not pass.
In the spring's seventh grade, 102 students tested in math with a mean scale score (Mean SS) of 534 (statewide Mean SS was 548). Thirty-seven percent did not meet standards. Twenty-eight percent did not meet standards statewide.
In reading, 102 students tested, with a Mean SS of 511 (state Mean SS was 517). Twenty-nine percent did not meet standards, while statewide 31 percent did not pass.
In writing, 103 students tested, with a Mean SS of 544 (state Mean SS was 568). Twenty-five percent did not pass, while statewide 17 percent did not pass.
In the spring's sixth grade, 76 students tested in math with a mean scale score (Mean SS) of 501 (statewide Mean SS was 525). Fifty-six percent did not meet standards. Thirty-three percent did not meet standards statewide.
In reading, 76 students tested, with a Mean SS of 481 (state Mean SS was 502). Fifty-eight percent did not meet standards, while statewide 31 percent did not pass.
In writing, 76 students tested, with a Mean SS of 505 (state Mean SS was 541). Forty percent did not pass, while statewide 20 percent did not pass
In the spring's fifth grade, 105 students tested in math with a mean scale score (Mean SS) of 482 (statewide Mean SS was 507). Fifty percent did not meet standards. Twenty-nine percent did not meet standards statewide.
In reading, 105 students tested, with a Mean SS of 479 (state Mean SS was 492). Thirty-seven percent did not meet standards, while statewide 28 percent did not pass.
In writing, 105 students tested, with a Mean SS of 503 (state Mean SS was 528). Forty-one percent did not pass, while statewide 30 percent did not pass.
In the spring's fourth grade, 80 students tested in math with a Mean SS of 469 (statewide Mean SS was 488). Thirty-seven percent did not meet standards. Twenty-five percent did not meet standards statewide.
In reading, 80 students tested, with a Mean SS of 459 (state Mean SS was 474). Forty-eight percent did not meet standards, while statewide 33 percent did not pass.
In writing, 80 students tested, with a Mean SS of 483 (state Mean SS was 498). Twenty percent did not pass, the same as statewide.
Willcox Elementary School
In the spring's third grade, 72 students tested in math with a mean scale score (MSS) of 447 (statewide MSS was 453). Thirty-three percent did not meet standards. Twenty-six percent did not meet standards statewide.
In reading, 72 students tested, with a MSS of 449 (state Mean SS was 458). Thirty-nine percent did not meet standards, while statewide 29 percent did not pass.
In writing, 72 students tested, with a Mean SS of 475 (state Mean SS was 467). Only four percent did not pass, while statewide 18 percent did not pass.
Roberts said he could not offer explanations on specifics at this point.
"The teaching teams will look at figures when they get the details and figure out what areas they need to work on," he said, adding they could also look at tests classes took previously to see what the their scores were.
"This will all be more meaningful when the state sends the background data in August and the teachers can dissect it," he added, noting the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) evaluation is due at the beginning of August and the final AYP designations will be sent out Sept. 5.
Arizona Schools Superintendent Tom Horne announced this month federal approval of a pilot growth model for Arizona schools which tracks individual student achievement from one year to the next, giving schools credit over time, rather than the current model which focuses on a snapshot of current achievement.
Roberts said the new growth model will be implemented immediately, and will calculate this year's AYP to be released in September and the Arizona Learns status in October.
"We believe it will give us a better showing. Rankings will be based on individual student growth, rather than on how a class did this year as compared to the class in that grade last year. This is not comparing apples to apples," he said. "Overall, it comes down to individual growth - we work with kids on what they need to work on and this shows their improvement."
"Overall, I'm pleased the scores are where they are. We have very diverse demographics, racially and socio-economically," he said.
"Based on our socio-economic status - we have 75 to 80 percent of our kids on free or reduced lunches - and our language proficiency, we have excellent scores. We're far ahead of districts in the state that don't have these elements. Am I satisfied with the scores? No. We won't be satisfied until every student is working to full potential," Roberts said.
Willcox High School
In the spring's 10th grade, 104 students tested in math with a mean scale score (Mean SS) of 699 (statewide Mean SS was 705). Thirty percent did not meet standards. Thirty-two percent did not meet standards statewide.
In reading, 108 students tested, with a Mean SS of 701 (state Mean SS was 705). Twenty-three percent did not meet standards (or pass the requirement), while statewide 27 percent did not pass.
In writing, 106 students tested with a Mean SS of 691 (state Mean SS was 702). Thirty-five percent did not pass. Statewide, 25 percent did not pass.
In the 11th and 12th grades, 10 or fewer students took the tests since most students have already passed the test in 10th or 11th grades. The ninth grade does not take the AIMS.
Willcox Middle School
In the spring's eighth grade, 105 students tested in math with a Mean SS of 550 (statewide Mean SS was 559). Forty-two percent did not meet standards. Thirty-eight percent did not meet standards statewide.
In reading, 106 students tested, with a Mean SS of 524 (state Mean SS was 523). Thirty-four percent did not meet standards, while statewide 35 percent did not pass.
In writing, 106 students tested, with a Mean SS of 552 (state Mean SS was 554). Twenty-six percent did not pass, while statewide 25 percent did not pass.
In the spring's seventh grade, 102 students tested in math with a mean scale score (Mean SS) of 534 (statewide Mean SS was 548). Thirty-seven percent did not meet standards. Twenty-eight percent did not meet standards statewide.
In reading, 102 students tested, with a Mean SS of 511 (state Mean SS was 517). Twenty-nine percent did not meet standards, while statewide 31 percent did not pass.
In writing, 103 students tested, with a Mean SS of 544 (state Mean SS was 568). Twenty-five percent did not pass, while statewide 17 percent did not pass.
In the spring's sixth grade, 76 students tested in math with a mean scale score (Mean SS) of 501 (statewide Mean SS was 525). Fifty-six percent did not meet standards. Thirty-three percent did not meet standards statewide.
In reading, 76 students tested, with a Mean SS of 481 (state Mean SS was 502). Fifty-eight percent did not meet standards, while statewide 31 percent did not pass.
In writing, 76 students tested, with a Mean SS of 505 (state Mean SS was 541). Forty percent did not pass, while statewide 20 percent did not pass
In the spring's fifth grade, 105 students tested in math with a mean scale score (Mean SS) of 482 (statewide Mean SS was 507). Fifty percent did not meet standards. Twenty-nine percent did not meet standards statewide.
In reading, 105 students tested, with a Mean SS of 479 (state Mean SS was 492). Thirty-seven percent did not meet standards, while statewide 28 percent did not pass.
In writing, 105 students tested, with a Mean SS of 503 (state Mean SS was 528). Forty-one percent did not pass, while statewide 30 percent did not pass.
In the spring's fourth grade, 80 students tested in math with a Mean SS of 469 (statewide Mean SS was 488). Thirty-seven percent did not meet standards. Twenty-five percent did not meet standards statewide.
In reading, 80 students tested, with a Mean SS of 459 (state Mean SS was 474). Forty-eight percent did not meet standards, while statewide 33 percent did not pass.
In writing, 80 students tested, with a Mean SS of 483 (state Mean SS was 498). Twenty percent did not pass, the same as statewide.
Willcox Elementary School
In the spring's third grade, 72 students tested in math with a mean scale score (MSS) of 447 (statewide MSS was 453). Thirty-three percent did not meet standards. Twenty-six percent did not meet standards statewide.
In reading, 72 students tested, with a MSS of 449 (state Mean SS was 458). Thirty-nine percent did not meet standards, while statewide 29 percent did not pass.
In writing, 72 students tested, with a Mean SS of 475 (state Mean SS was 467). Only four percent did not pass, while statewide 18 percent did not pass.
Roberts said he could not offer explanations on specifics at this point.
"The teaching teams will look at figures when they get the details and figure out what areas they need to work on," he said, adding they could also look at tests classes took previously to see what the their scores were.
"This will all be more meaningful when the state sends the background data in August and the teachers can dissect it," he added, noting the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) evaluation is due at the beginning of August and the final AYP designations will be sent out Sept. 5.
Arizona Schools Superintendent Tom Horne announced this month federal approval of a pilot growth model for Arizona schools which tracks individual student achievement from one year to the next, giving schools credit over time, rather than the current model which focuses on a snapshot of current achievement.
Roberts said the new growth model will be implemented immediately, and will calculate this year's AYP to be released in September and the Arizona Learns status in October.
"We believe it will give us a better showing. Rankings will be based on individual student growth, rather than on how a class did this year as compared to the class in that grade last year. This is not comparing apples to apples," he said. "Overall, it comes down to individual growth - we work with kids on what they need to work on and this shows their improvement."
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