Most Polk County students are proficient or advanced in core subject areas, according to test results released by the state, although the average gains in test scores are sometimes below average. The recently released Report Card for school systems and schools showed a lot of progress made overall. Profiles by school give a more detailed picture of the 2007-08 school year.

In some cases, there were good averages overall because one grade level did well enough to cover poor averages in other grades. In other cases, the three-year average is low even though recent scores are good because of exceptionally low scores in year one. Keep in mind that, especially with small classes, one unusually high or low score can affect the average.

The report card presents results of the testing program in two ways: by actual achievement score (proficiency) and by a value-added analysis that shows three-year average gains over the state growth standard. The value added analysis measures student progress within a grade and subject. Tests are given for math, reading/language arts, social studies, science and writing in grades 3-8.

Benton Elementary

 Benton had 515 students in grades preK-5, with 65% eligible for free and reduced lunch because of limited family income. Attendance was 94.6% and the promotion rate was 97.1%.

Three-year achievement scores showed two areas of improvement overall: Math went from a B to an A and Social Studies went from a C to a B. Reading/language arts and science remained at B. The 3-year average writing score for 5th grade remained at A.

Math, by grade: 3rd – 51% were proficient, 40% were advanced. 4th – 67% were proficient, 24% were advanced. 5th – 46% were proficient, 49% were advanced.

Reading/Language Arts: 3rd – 55% were proficient, 41% advanced. 4th – 52% proficient, 38% advanced. 5th – 53% proficient, 45% advanced.

Science, by grade: 3rd - 45% proficient, 41% advanced. 4th – 49% proficient, 47% advanced. 5th – 58% proficient, 35% advanced.

Social Studies: 3rd - 35% proficient, 47% advanced. 4th – 64% proficient, 15% advanced. 5th – 46% proficient, 41% advanced.

Writing, 5th grade – 61% proficient, 23% advanced.

In the value-added analysis, Benton earned all A’s overall in the gain in test scores over the past three years.  By subject and grade there were 5A’s, one B, one D and one F. Grade 4 math went from B to D, grade 4 Social Studies went from A to B.

Grade 5 remained at A for gain in test scores in all areas. Grade 4 remained at an A in Science and F in Reading/Language Arts.

Chilhowee Middle School

Chilhowee had 447 students in grades 6-8, with 65.9% qualifying for free and reduced lunch. Attendance was 95%; the promotion rate was 99.1%. There were 8 students suspended.

Three-year average achievement scores remained the same as last year overall: B in Math, Reading/Language Arts and Science and C in Social Studies.

In last year’s math test: 6th – 75% proficient, 19% advanced. 7th – 55% proficient, 36% advanced. 8th – 69% proficient, 19% advanced.

Reading/Language Arts: 6th – 55% proficient, 41% advanced. 7th – 54% proficient, 38% advanced. 8th – 45% proficient, 52% advanced.

Science: 6th – 57% proficient, 29% advanced. 7th – 42% proficient, 34% advanced. 8th – 47% proficient, 29% advanced.

Writing, 8th grade – 70% proficient, 21% advanced.

In value-added, overall gains remained at A for science and reading/language arts Gains in math scores went from C to D and in Social Studies from A to C. By grade and subject, there were 6 A’s, 3 C’s, and 3 F’s.

In math, grade 7 went from B to A, grade 8 went from A to C, and grade 6 remain at F for growth.

In social studies, grade 6 went from B to A, grade 7 went from A to F and grade 8 went from A to C.

In reading/language arts, grade 6 and 8 remained at A; grade 7 went from D to F.

Average gains in science remained at A for grades 6 and 8 and C for grade 7.

Of the Chilhowee students taking the high school end-of-course test for Physical Science, 25% were proficient and 75% were advanced. Of the 8th graders taking the high school Gateway test for Algebra 1, 39% were proficient and 61% were advanced.

Copper Basin Elementary

Copper Basin Elementary had 432 students in grades preK-6, with 89% eligible for free and reduced lunch. The attendance rate last year was 94.3%; promotion rate was 97.2%. Academic achievement grades stayed at B overall for Math, Reading/Language Arts and Science and went from B to C in Social Studies. The writing score was A.

Math: 3rd – 56% proficient, 20% advanced. 4th – 58% proficient, 27% advanced. 5th – 68% proficient, 23% advanced. 6th – 64% proficient, 26% advanced.

Reading/Language Arts: 3rd – 56% proficient, 27% advanced. 4th – 51% proficient, 37% advanced. 5th – 49% proficient, 48% advanced. 6th – 55% proficient, 44% advanced.

Science: 3rd - 55% proficient, 35% advanced. 4th – 56% proficient, 27% advanced. 5th – 40% proficient, 49% advanced. 6th – 44% proficient, 40% advanced.

Social Studies: 3rd – 41% proficient, 15% advanced. 4th – 64% proficient, 22% advanced. 5th – 50% proficient, 42% advanced. 6th – 51% proficient, 27% advanced.

Writing, 5th grade – 41% proficient, 32% advanced.

This is the first year Copper Basin Elementary has been open long enough to have the three-year growth analysis. Student gains overall were B in math and A in reading/language arts, social studies and science.

In math, test gains were A in grades 4 and 6 and F in grade 5.

In social studies, test gains were A in 4th and 6th and D in 5th.

For Reading/Language Arts, gains were D in grade 4 and A in 5th and 6th.

In Science, test gains were B in grade 4, A in grade 5 and C in grade 6.

Copper Basin High School

Copper Basin had 329 students in grades 7-12, with 73.1% eligible for free and reduced lunch. The attendance rate was 95.8%. Promotion rate was 100% in grades 7-8.

Three-year achievement scores for grades 7 and 8 showed improvement in two areas. Social Studies and Science both went from C to B. Math remained at B and Reading/Language Arts remained at A.

Math: 7th – 49% proficient, 38% advanced. 8th – 58% proficient, 35% advanced.

Reading/Language Arts: 7th – 44% proficient, 47% advanced. 8th – 38% proficient, 63% advances.

Science: 7th – 39% proficient, 52% advanced. 8th – 60% proficient, 29% advanced.

Social Studies: 7th – 49% proficient, 33% advanced. 8th – 50% proficient, 38% advanced.

Writing, grade 8 – 70% proficient, 23% advanced.

In the analysis of gains in scores compared to state gains, there was improvement in three areas. Math went from F to D, Reading/Language Arts went from C to A, and Social Studies went from F to B. Science remained at A.

By grade and subject, there were four A’s, one B, one D and two F’s.

Math remained at F for grade 7 and went from F to D in grade 8. Social studies went from F to B in grade 7 and went from F to A in grade 8.

In reading/language arts, average test gains remained at F for grade 7 and stayed at A in grade 8.

For science, grade 7 and 8 remained at A.

South Polk

South Polk had 349 students in grades preK-5 last year, with 657% qualifying for free or reduced lunch. Attendance was 95.9%; the promotion rate was 98.5%.

Three-year average achievement scores went from C to B in Reading/Language Arts and remained at A for math and C for Social Studies and Science.

Math: 3rd – 55% proficient, 38% advanced. 4th – 44% proficient, 53% advanced. 5th – 37% proficient, 61% advanced.

Reading/Language Arts: 3rd – 63% proficient, 30% advanced. 4th – 46% proficient, 47% advanced. 5th – 45% proficient, 52% advanced.

Science: 3rd – 56% proficient, 22% advanced. 4th – 50% proficient, 43% advanced. 5th – 57% proficient, 39% advanced.

Social Studies: 3rd – 51% proficient, 15% advanced. 4th – 60% proficient, 26% advanced. 5th – 77% proficient, 11% advanced.

Writing, 5th – 69% proficient, 13% advanced.

In the value-added analysis of three-year test gains, all four subject areas were A overall. By grade and subject, there were 6 A’s, one B (5th grade Social Studies) and one F (5th grade math).

(Next: high schools)