Mastery Tests Show Gains Over Time

A version of this story appears in TheDailyNorwalk.com

Diane Filardo, Norwalk's Testing and Evaluation Specialist, has spent the last few days analyzing the 2010 Connecticut Mastery Test results and says that Norwalk elementary and middle schools scores are continuing to trend upwards and that the gap with state averages-- while still present—is closing.

The State Department of Education released the results of the CMTs last Thursday. All Connecticut public school students are required to take these standardized tests that measure math, reading and writing in grades 3-8. Science is tested in grade 5 and 8. These tests are used to determine if a school makes "adequate yearly progress" under the federal No Child Left Behind law. Under NCLB, Norwalk is a district "in need of improvement." The scores are measured as advanced, goal, proficient, basic and below basic.

In elementary math, the strides are particularly noteworthy. While the scores are by and large part similar to last year's results, they show considerable improvement from 2006. For example, only 47 percent of third graders met "goal" in math in 2006. This year it was 64 percent—a 17 percent gain. Grade 5 math showed a notable increase, posting a 10-point gain in goal from 2009—58 percent to 68 percent.

Elementary and writing reading scores are also increasing over time but not at the same pace as math. Fifth grade reading was particularly "disappointing" according to Filardo. The scores went from 58 percent at "goal" last year to 55 percent this year. "I am not happy with the literacy scores," said Dr. Susan Marks, Norwalk's new superintendent, who considers these scores a "baseline" for her work in the district.

Middle schools posted some significant increases from last year. Grade 7 "goal" scores went up in all areas, most notably from 51 to 63 percent in math. In reading, grade 6 scores went up 8 points in reading but down in math. Filardo said grade 8 scores did not look as good--there was a backwards slide in math and writing from last year.

Filardo also said that a higher percentage of Norwalk's Hispanic students reached "proficiency" (a measure beneath goal) compared to their peers statewide across the grades in all content areas.

Percent of Students at  Goal

                     2010 Norwalk     2010 State     2006 Norwalk     2006 State
Grade 3
Math                   64                     63                      47                     56
Reading              51                     57                      46                     54
Writing               56                     58                      53                     61

Grade 4
Math                   62                     67                       44                      59
Reading              54                     60                       46                      58
Writing                59                     64                      52                      63

Grade 5
Math                  68                     73                       51                       61
Reading             55                      62                      53                       61
Writing              65                      68                     60                        65

Grade 6
Math                  53                     71                      47                        59
Reading             66                     75                      57                        64
Writing              51                     66                      56                        62

Grade 7
Math                  63                     69                      40                         57
Reading             71                     78                      57                         67
Writing              49                     61                      46                         60

Grade 8
Math                  54                     68                       42                       62
Reading             61                     73                       57                       67
Writing              45                      63                      54                       45