Local districts set to crunch PARCC stats
Standardized testing scores show students across New Mexico scored higher in language and math over previous years, according to results released by the Public Education Department on Thursday.
Statewide results from the test called the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Career, or PARCC, show 31 percent of students scored proficient in language and 22 percent scored proficient in math. These are the biggest percentage gains in the four years the PARCC exams have been administered.
The test is designed to help schools measure how well students are meeting Common Core standards.
Detailed results for schools in Las Vegas were not available as of press time.
While statewide scores show improvement, some schools in rural areas still struggle to see gains in test scores. According to analysis from the Associated Press, test scores from rural districts with large Native American student populations still lagged behind other schools in the state, even as larger districts located near reservations posted record growth.
“We’re really just waiting for more information to come out from the state,” said Las Vegas City Schools Superintendent Kelt Cooper. “They said some of the data is embargoed and we’re not supposed to show that to anybody — it’s supposed to be internal. ”
While Cooper couldn’t disclose the specifics of City Schools’ results, he expected to see gains in two categories and a decline in three others.
West Las Vegas Schools Superintendent Chris Gutierrez said his district saw gains as well, but noted a decline in mathematics scores.
“We’re putting a plan together,” he said. “Math is where the focus will be this year. We need to improve math scores districtwide.”
Once the state releases testing results, principles at City Schools will be given access to results for their schools.
“In the past two years, my associate superintendent restricted access by principles to directly see the scores at their schools,” Cooper said. “I’m changing that. I let the principles have full access to their data so they have it earlier.”
The City Schools Board of Education will meet Thursday night to discuss its PARCC results.
According to Gutierrez, West Las Vegas Schools will begin discussing an improvement plan for math scores at its administration meeting on Thursday, July 25.
