The Indiana Department of Education this morning released the statewide school results of the reconfigured ISTEP tests that students took last spring.

For Duneland, the results show that all but one grade level surpassed the state averages. The exception was in fourth grade math, in which the scores came in one percentage point lower than the average.

Duneland parents, like all other parents in the state, may have already received their individual child’s results. The information released today shows the overall school district scores, along with a breakdown for individual schools.

The Department of Education cautioned against making comparisons between last year’s ISTEP results and the most recent, spring 2009 scores, since the latest test took a completely different approach than those in previous years. When students were tested in September, the ISTEP represented concepts they should have learned in the previous grade level and retained over the summer; the new test in the spring attempts to cover materials that students should learn in their current grade level.

Duneland Assistant Superintendent Monte Moffett also cautioned against too much interpretation of the ISTEP results, since there’s little to compare the numbers with. He also said the cut scores, or the level at which the students are deemed as passing, have changed.

As an example, he cited some Duneland grade levels where the numbers of students who passed either English or math fell from last year, but the pass-plus scores increased. Pass-plus is the highest category in ISTEP that shows that students have an exceptionally good understanding of the topic.

The results do give plenty for school officials to ponder. For example, the results for the fifth grade class at Westchester Intermediate showed that 83 percent passed the math portion of ISTEP, seven percentage points better than the state average of 76 percent. But among in the highest category of pass-plus, 31 percent of WIS students achieved this level, a full 10 points above the state average.

Another example is that several Duneland schools showed lower fourth grade math scores than the state average. One of these was at Liberty Elementary. However, the percentage of LES fourth graders who not only passed math but who scored pass-plus in math was 18 percent, one point higher than the state average.

Moffett said if a particular school or grade result isn’t as high as it was in the past, it might still show significant progress on the part of the students, since the most recent ISTEP test clearly was more challenging than in previous years.

Indeed, school officials in Duneland and throughout the state last spring raised concerns that the test -- particularly the math portion -- covered topics that the students hadn’t ever been tested on before, with various reports of even the most advanced students breaking down in tears over the difficulty of the test.

In any event, Moffett said it’s clear that Indiana schools are placing greater demands on kids, testing them on more advanced concepts than in prior years. And to their credit, and to the credit of parents and teachers, the kids are stepping up to the challenge, he said.

“I think this the best educated generation we’ve had,” he said. “We are asking kids to do more, and the kids are performing and doing well.”

He also urged parents to keep in mind that standardized tests such as the ISTEP give only one snapshot of a student. While test scores are important, it’s also a good idea to consider students’ overall progress and achievements, rather than overly emphasize the results of one test score.

The following is a partial breakdown of the ISTEP scores for Duneland that were available under a media embargo that was lifted this morning. The first set shows the English/Language arts scores, followed by the math, then the science and social studies. The percent of those “passing” include those who scored in the pass-plus level, followed by just the pass-plus percentages.

Grade 3: Passing English, 89 percent; state average, 74 percent. Pass-plus in English, 16 percent; state average, 10 percent.

Grade 4: Pass English, 80 percent; state average, 73 percent. Pass-plus English, 17 percent; state average, 13 percent.

Grade 5: Pass English, 78 percent; state average, 70 percent. Pass-plus English, 16 percent; state average, 13 percent.

Grade 6: Pass English, 80 percent; state average, 69 percent. Pass-plus English, 19 percent ; state average, 16 percent.

Grade 7: Pass English, 78 percent; state average, 67 percent. Pass-plus English, 14 percent; state average, 12 percent.

Grade 8: Pass English, 75 percent; state average, 65 percent. Pass-plus English, 13 percent; state average, 9 percent.

Grade 3: Pass Math, 83 percent; state average, 72 percent. Pass-plus math, 23 percent; state average, 18 percent.

Grade 4: Pass math, 69 percent; state average, 70 percent. Pass-plus math, 11 percent; state average, 17 percent.

Grade 5: Pass math, 83 percent; state average, 76 percent. Pass-plus math, 29 percent; state average, 21 percent.

Grade 6: Pass math, 85 percent; state average, 73 percent. Pass-plus math, 23 percent; state average, 14 percent.

Grade 7: Pass math, 78 percent; state average, 68 percent. Pass-plus math, 18 percent; state average, 19 percent.

Grade 8: Pass math, 74 percent; state average, 67 percent. Pass-plus math, 17 percent; state average, 14 percent.

Grade 4: Pass science, 78 percent. State average, 71 percent.

Grade 6: Pass science, 69 percent. State average, 54 percent.

Grade 5: Pass social studies, 75 percent. State average, 60 percent.

Grade 7: Pass social studies, 76 percent. State average, 58 percent.

Bailly, 3rd grade: Pass English, 88 percent; pass math, 80 percent.

Bailly, 4th grade: Pass English, 81 percent; pass math, 69 percent; pass science, 79 percent.

Brummit, 3rd grade: Pass English, 86 percent; pass math, 80 percent.

Brummit, 4rd grade: Pass English, 70 percent; pass math, 61 percent; pass science, 67 percent.

Jackson, 3rd grade: Pass English, 90 percent; pass math, 85 percent.

Jackson, 4th grade: Pass English, 88 percent; pass math, 76 percent; pass science, 86 percent.

Liberty, 3rd grade: Pass English, 92 percent; pass math, 85 percent.

Liberty, 4th grade: Pass English, 81 percent; pass math, 70 percent; pass science, 82 percent.

Yost, 3rd grade: Pass English, 85 percent; pass math, 83 percent.

Yost, 4th grade: Pass English, 78 percent; pass math, 67 percent; pass science, 73 percent.

WIS, 5th grade: Pass English, 77 percent; pass math, 85 percent; pass social studies, 74 percent.

WIS, 6th grade: Pass English, 81 percent; pass math, 86 percent; pass science, 68 percent.

LIS, 5th grade: Pass English, 79 percent; pass math, 79 percent; pass social studies, 75 percent.

LIS, 6th grade: Pass English, 78 percent; pass math, 82 percent; pass science, 72 percent.

CMS, 7th grade: Pass English, 78 percent; pass math, 78 percent; pass social studies, 76 percent.

CMS, 8th grade: Pass English, 75 percent; pass math, 74 percent.

Posted 9/16/2009