District 81 Students Score Lower In Standardized Tests But Fourth- And Eighth-Graders Remain Above National Average

Standardized test scores have dropped this year for District 81 fourth- and eighth-graders, after peaking in 1996.

But Spokane students remain above the national average in all subjects except spelling and reading.

“You have to look past the one-year to one-year comparison,” said Joe Kinney, District 81 testing coordinator.

“There has been general improvement over the years. You will see slight increases or slight decreases.”

While Kinney said those fluctuations are to be expected, a focus on spelling and reading will be a top priority in Spokane schools.

The district is expanding its third-grade spelling program to all grades in an effort to boost scores, Kinney said.

Fourth-grade spelling scores dropped from the 39 to 37 percentile. Eighth-grade scores dropped from 45 to 42. The national average is 50.

A score of 50 percentile means students scored, on average, better than half the students tested across the nation and worse than the other half.

Larger districts, such as District 81, are less likely than small districts to show big jumps in test scores.

“We are taking a serious look at the spelling score,” Kinney said.

Reading scores, dropping from the 51 to 49 percentile in fourth grade and the 55 to 52 percentile in eighth grade, are a concern, Kinney said.

“The district needs to see what can be done to help students with reading at all grade levels.”

The district received test results last week.

Kinney said that administrators have not had time to evaluate the scores and determine why they dropped.

Washington state requires fourth-, eighth- and 11th-graders to take the standardized Comprehensive Tests of Basic Skills annually.

Last year, District 81 fourth-graders improved the most, advancing in all subject areas.

They scored several points above the national average in all areas but spelling.

After fall testing, fourth-graders’ total battery scores this year are 53, down a point from last year.

Eighth-grade scores dropped two points to 54.

, DataTimes