Press Release

October 18, 1999

For Immediate Release

FALL READING SCORES ON IOWA TESTS OF BASIC SKILLS SHOW SOME PROGRESS

Results from the reading portion of the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills show progress, particularly in early grades where reading instruction has been a priority, according to testing data released today by the district.

Students in five of the eight grades tested scored better than their counterparts one year ago. Among the three other grades, scores in held steady in one grade and slipped in two other grades.

Notably, students in the ninth grade reached the 50th percentile, which is considered the national average on such tests. Most other grades were still below that mark. The test was given in September throughout the district.

Grades two, three and four have each shown three continuous years of progress. Those grade levels have received significant assistance in reading instruction throughout the district. Over the previous three school years, the district has supported the use of designated "reading assistants" to help teachers exclusively in reading instruction in grades one and two.

That program is continuing this school year with money generated by the November, 1998 mill levy election, which included an annual $6.5 million program to support continued assistance with reading instruction in kindergarten through third grade.

Grade two scores on the ITBS increased to the 41st percentile, from the 40th in 1998 and the 38th in 1997. (A score at the 41st percentile means that the district's second grade students scored better than 41 percent of second graders in the national norming sample.)

Grade three scores increased to the 36th percentile (from the 35th in 1998 and the 34th in 1997); and grade four increased to the 40th percentile (from the 39th in 1998 and the 38th in 1997).

Grade seven scores jumped from the 39th percentile in 1997 and 1998 to the 43rd this year. Grade five held steady for the third straight year (at the 36th percentile) and grade six and grade eight slipped one percentile each, to the 39th percentile and 47th percentile respectively.

In its first year as a re-opened school, students at Southmoor Elementary School posted impressive scores. Southmoor students in second- and third-grade scored at the 91st and 95th percentile respectively.

At Slavens Elementary School, grade two was at the 83rd percentile. Grades two, three, and four were at the 73rd, 79th, and 76th percentile respectively.

Fourth-graders at Bromwell Elementary School posted scores at the 83rd percentile while grades three and five were at the 75th percentile; grade two students scored at the 73rd percentile.

Fifth-graders at University Park Elementary School scored at the 70th percentile, and fifth graders at Palmer Elementary School scored at the 71st percentile. Second-graders at the Odyssey Charter School scored at the 70th percentile, and students in all four grades tested at Cory Elementary School were between the 82nd and 86th percentiles.