Schools

West Contra Costa Students Score Below Average In State Tests

The district's 2013 STAR test scores are similar to last year's results

For the most part, West Contra Costa Unified School District students scored below the statewide averages in the Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) test results released Thursday by the California State Superintendent of Schools office.

Overall, the 2013 STAR scores decreased slightly statewide from the 2012 results.

Across California, 56.4 percent of students scored proficient or above in the English language arts section. That was 0.8 percent lower than a year ago.

In math, 51.2 percent of students scored proficient or above, a decrease of 0.3 percent.

In science, 59.1 percent of students were proficient or above, down 0.4 percent. In history and social sciences, 49.4 percent scored proficient or above, up 0.6 percent.

Superintendent Tom Torlakson said the results were satisfying given the budget cuts and other problems schools faced this past year.

“As you would expect for a school system in transition, results varied from grade to grade, subject to subject, and school to school, but the big picture is one of remarkable resilience despite the challenges,” Torlakson said. “While we all want to see California’s progress continue, these results show that in the midst of change and uncertainty, teachers and schools kept their focus on students and learning. That’s a testament to the depth of their commitment to their students and the future of our state.”

In the West Contra Costa school district, the results were divided up by grade level.

In English language arts, every grade was below the 56 percent statewide average. The highest mark was the 4th graders with 55 percent proficient or above. The lowest results were the 11th graders with 30 percent and 10th graders with 35 percent.

In mathematics, the lower grades did better than the upper grades with several above the state average of 51 percent. The highest were the 4th graders with 62 percent and the 3rd graders with 58 percent. The lowest were the 7th graders at 39 percent and the 6th graders with 42 percent.

The 8th through 12th grade scores were separated by subject matter such as algebra I, algebra II and geometry.

The history, social science and science scores are also divided up by subject matter.

This year's West Contra Costa Unified scores were similar to the 2012 results at most grade levels.


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