PUSD scores exceed state, county averages

Poway Unified School District students exceeded the state and county averages in the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress exams.

This statewide assessment, now in its third year, replaced the Standardized Testing and Reporting program and is part of the state’s Common Core requirements. The assessments were taken by students in grades 3 through 8 as well as grade 11, with over 18,500 students in the district taking the exam.

Students earn one of four scores on the test in both English and math: standards exceeded, standards met, standards nearly met and standards not met.

In the PUSD, 67 percent of students who took the CAASPP met or exceeded state standards for math, compared to 37.5 percent statewide and 43.5 percent countywide. In English, 74 percent of PUSD students who took the exam met or exceeded state standards, compared to 48.5 percent statewide and 55.6 percent countywide.

PUSD’s math score is the same as last year and its English score is down two percentage points from its 2016 score of 76 percent.

The district showed gains in the number of students meeting or exceeding standards in several grade levels. Students in grades 5, 6 and 11 showed improvement from last year, according to a press release from the district.

“Last year’s fifth grade students, as a collective group over a three year period, have demonstrated an eight percentage point increase in the number of students meeting or exceeding the standards. This data aligns with our district’s commitment toward improving literacy proficiency in support of our district’s goal of ensuring college and career readiness for all students,” said the press release.

While students showed a two percent drop in English scores from last year, the trend is positive over the past three years, according to the press release. “A primary goal of the district has been to increase the achievement of all students by focusing on equity in meeting the individual needs of our students.” Test results show that the district’s African-American, Latino and economically disadvantaged students have made gain in English Language Arts, and in math, the Latino and economically disadvantaged students have shown improvement.

The district acknowledged that the tests show areas that will need continued focus in the press release, stating that the district is committed to refining and aligning systemic practices in supporting all students and a need to continue to develop and implement strategies and programs designed to address the needs of the district’s English learners.

“Data from assessments is used as part of a broader picture of student achievement. Teachers use these results in conjunction with site and classroom assessments and observations, to help tailor instruction throughout the school year. Consistent strong results are indicative of system-wide collaboration by parents, teachers, and school staff to facilitate student success,” said Mel Robertson, PUSD associate superintendent of learning support services, in the press release.

While scores for individual students are not available online, schoolwide scores are available by visiting caaspp.cde.ca.gov/sb2017 and clicking “search smarter balanced results.”

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