Tougher tests = lower scores

RALEIGH -- Most area schools experienced sharp drops in the percentage of students passing state exams thanks to tougher new reading exams.

The decline this past school year matched what happened statewide, according to results released last week in the state's ABCs of Public Education testing and accountability program.

The new tests, introduced last spring in elementary and middle schools, included longer reading passages and more material from published authors rather than passages written for the tests.

In addition, the State Board of Education made it harder to pass the tests. For example, a third-grader who answered about half the questions correctly on the 2007 reading test would have passed. This year, third-graders had to answer about 68 percent of the questions correctly.

"The State Board of Education is raising the bar," said David Holdzkom, the Wake County school system's assistant superintendent for evaluation and research. "That's a good thing."

The changes in passing percentages were dramatic. For instance, 56 percent of third-graders statewide passed the reading exams in 2007-08, compared with 84 percent the previous year.

A little more than half of elementary and middle school students statewide passed both the reading and math exams. Math performance dropped after new exams were used in 2006.

Scores dropped even as the Wake school system continued to perform above the state average.

Only 30 of the district's schools received accolades for having least 80 percent of students passing state exams and meeting growth goals. There had been 69 schools the prior year.

Only six local schools in the district had least 80 percent of students passing state exams and meeting growth goals. It had been 27 schools the year before.

A majority of schools in central and northern Wake had passing rates in the 70s with several in the 60s and a few in the 50s.

Performance was higher at several Raleigh charter schools, which are independent of the Wake school system.

Exploris Middle, Magellan Charter, Quest Academy and Raleigh Charter High all were named Honor Schools of Excellence for exceeding growth goals and having at least 90 percent of their students passing state tests.

The Wake school system had four Honor Schools of Excellence, all in the western part of the county.

Other Wake schools stood out.

Lead Mine Elementary School had the highest passing rate of any Wake school where more than 40 percent of students received subsidized lunches, a measure used to determine family income. The school is off Old Lead mine Road in North Raleigh.

Only five Wake schools with at least 40 percent of students receiving subsidized lunches had passing rates above 70 percent.

"Our goal was to be above the district average, and we were," said Gary Baird, Lead Mine's principal. "Of course we'd like to be in the 80s and 90s. But anytime there's a new test, there's a learning curve."

Baird also noted that Lead Mine exceeded state academic growth goals and passed the federal No Child Behind requirements.

Only 18 percent of Wake schools met the No Child Left Behind standards, which measure school based on whether groups meet targets for passing state math and reading exams.

Now Wake and other school districts are trying to explain the results to parents -- especially why their schools have lower passing rates. Wake will send letters to parents explaining the test changes the state made.

At Durant Road Middle School in Raleigh, Principal Robert Smith said he will reassure parents that reading scores will go up. He'll point to how the school's math scores have improved since 2006, when statewide scores dropped.

"I think parents are willing to give us the benefit of the doubt," Smith said.