Cobb ITBS Scores Remain Above National Averages

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1 P.O. Box 1088 Marietta, GA Telephone: (770) For Immediate Release December 20, For more information contact: Jay Dillon (770) Cobb ITBS Scores Remain Above National Averages Third, fifth and seventh graders in the Cobb County School District continued to perform well above national averages on the fall administration of the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS). Third graders average composite score ranked in the 68th percentile, meaning that Cobb third graders scored equal to or better than 68 percent of all other US third grade students who participated in the test. Composite scores for fifth graders ranked in the 65th percentile and seventh graders in the 62nd percentile. All three grade levels weathered a slight decline in composite scores compared to last year (see Table I). The ITBS composite score combines results in core subject areas of Reading, Language Arts and Math with performance in Science, Social Studies and Sources of Information. Administration of the test allows the District to compare the performance of its students to that of other students across the nation who took the same test at the same time of year. ITBS results are particularly helpful in identifying reading or math skills where students may need additional instruction during the second half of the school year. Superintendent Dr. Michael Hinojosa said, We did experience a dip in composite scores, but the more significant news from these ITBS results is that our students continue to perform very well in a national comparison. In the three core subject areas, Cobb third graders ranked in 63 rd percentile in Reading, 60 th percentile for Language Arts and the 63 rd percentile for Math. Fifth graders placed in the 62nd percentile in Reading, the 63rd percentile in Language Arts, and 62nd percentile in Math. Seventh grade students scored at the 58th percentile in Reading, 56th percentile in Language Arts, and 59th percentile in Math. In addition to the percentile rankings, ITBS results also include grade equivalents, or GE scores. The numbers in the GE score that come before the decimal represent the grade level of the student s performance, while the digits that follow the decimal represent the month within the grade. A GE score of 5.2 means the student s performance was similar to that expected of a fifth grader taking the same test during the second month of school. Student scores are reported for the system in Table I. Individual school scores are reported in Tables IIa IIc. ### BOARD OF EDUCATION SUPERINTENDENT Scott Sweeney, Chair David Morgan, Vice Chairman Lynnda Eagle Tim Stultz Kathleen Angelucci David Banks Alison Bartlett Dr. Michael Hinojosa

2 COBB COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT TESTING BRIEF Iowa Tests of Basic Skills Fall Georgia law (O.C.G.A., Section ) mandates that each local school system may elect to administer, with state funding, nationally norm referenced instruments in reading, mathematics, science, or social studies in grade three, four, or five and in grade six, seven, or eight, subject to available appropriations, with assistance to such school systems by the State Board of Education with regard to administration guidance, scoring, and reporting of such assessments. The purpose of the norm referenced test (NRT) is to obtain information about how the performance of Georgia's students compare with that of students in a national sample, an external reference group. The results of an NRT are used for evaluation, decision making, and instructional improvement. The Department of Education has contracted with Riverside Publishing Company to provide the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills, Form A (ITBS/A) for students in one grade within grade bands 3 5 and one grade within grade bands 6 8 at no cost to local systems. The ITBS was administered in district schools in early October for grades 3, 5 and 7. The ITBS ranks student performance according to percentiles, or how they compare with peers nationwide. For example, a student in the 75 th percentile on the ITBS scored equal to or better than 75% of all students across the nation who participated in the ITBS at that same grade level. At the district level, the Composite score which includes student performance in Reading, Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies and Sources of Information, has consistently increased by one percent at each grade level over the past three years. Sixty nine percent of schools in the district had average composite scores above the national average (50 th percentile) at the third grade, 72% at fifth grade. Seventy one percent of middle schools ranked above the national average in grade seven. These figures include charter schools. Social Studies scores were strongest overall, with a 1% gain for third grade students and 1% decrease for fifth and seventh grade students. While all three grade levels showed a decline in performance, scores for seventh grade students faired best with Reading scores holding steady and a 1% increase in Sources of Information. Reading scores were unchanged for third grade students, who also had a 1% increase in Social Studies scores.

3 KEY FINDINGS Third Grade Results o Students at this grade level ranked in the 63 rd percentile in Reading with a grade equivalent (GE) of 3.4. At the time of the administration, a GE of 3.2 is the expected performance level. o Performance on the Language Arts test placed third graders in the 60 th percentile, with a GE of 3.2. o Students scored in the 63 rd percentile in Third Grade Math, and a grade equivalent of 3.3. o The Core for third grade, which is an overall score excluding Science and Social Studies, was in the 62 nd percentile and 3.3 for a GE. o Social Studies scores for third grade students ranked in the 69 th percentile with a GE of 3.7. o In Science, the percentile for third graders was 68 with a GE of 3.7. o The percentile rank for students at this grade in Sources of Information was 71, with a GE of 3.6. o The Composite score for third grade students was 68, and the GE was 3.5. Fifth Grade Results o Students at this grade level ranked in the 62 nd percentile in Reading with a grade equivalent (GE) of 5.6. At the time of the administration, a GE of 5.2 is the expected performance level. o Students scored in the 63 rd percentile in Language Arts, with a grade equivalent of 5.9. o Math scores for fifth grade students ranked in the 62 nd percentile with a GE of 5.5. o The Core for fifth grade, which is an overall score excluding Science and Social Studies, was in the 62 nd percentile and 5.7 for a GE. o In Social Studies, the percentile for fifth graders was 68 with a GE of 6.0. o Performance on the Science test placed fifth graders in the 67 th percentile, with a GE of 6.1. o Fifth grade students scored in the 68 th percentile in Sources of Information, with a GE of 6.1. o The Composite score for fifth grade students was 65, and the GE was 5.8.

4 Seventh Grade Results o Students at this grade level ranked in the 58 th percentile in Reading with a grade equivalent (GE) of 7.6. At the time of the administration, a GE of 7.2 is the expected performance level. o In Language Arts, the percentile for seventh graders was 56 with a GE of 7.5. o Students scored in the 59 th percentile in Math, with a grade equivalent of 7.8. o o The Core for seventh grade, which is an overall score excluding Science and Social Studies, was in the 57 th percentile and 7.5 for a GE. Performance on the Social Studies test placed seventh graders in the 62 nd percentile, with a GE of 8.1. o Science scores for seventh grade students ranked in the 65 th percentile with a GE of 8.4. o On the Sources of Information Test, seventh grade students scored in the 66 th percentile and had a GE of 8.6. o The Composite score for seventh grade students was 62, and the GE was 8.0.

5 FALL PERCENTILE RANK S AND GRADE EQUIVALENT S FOR ALL STUDENTS Table I System Averages ABOVE Third Grade: Fifth Grade: Seventh Grade: 7.2 NATIONAL 50 THIRD GRADE FIFTH GRADE SEVENTH GRADE Maps/ Reference TOTAL* STUDIES Voc. Compre. TOTAL Spell. Capit. Punct. Usg/Exp. TOTAL Con/Est. Data Int. Computation TOTAL Diagrams Materials TOTAL GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile * Core Total includes Reading, Language and Mathematics tests Data provided by the Office of Accountability 1

6 FALL PERCENTILE RANK S AND GRADE EQUIVALENT S FOR ALL STUDENTS Table I Three Year Comparison ABOVE Third Grade: Fifth Grade: Seventh Grade: 7.2 NATIONAL 50 THIRD GRADE FIFTH GRADE SEVENTH GRADE Voc. Compre. TOTAL Spell. Capit. Punct. Usg/Exp. TOTAL Con/Est. Data Int. Computation TOTAL TOTAL* STUDIES Maps/Diagrams Ref. Material TOTAL GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile * Core Total includes Reading, Language and Mathematics tests Data provided by the Office of Accountability 2

7 FALL PERCENTILE RANK S AND GRADE EQUIVALENT S FOR ALL STUDENTS Table IIa Third Grade ABOVE Third Grade: NATIONAL 50 Cobb County Acworth Addison Argyle Austell Baker Bells Ferry Belmont Hills Big Shanty Birney Blackwell Brown Brumby Bryant Bullard Chalker Cheatham Hill Clarkdale TOTAL* STUDIES Maps/ Ref. Voc. Compre. TOTAL Spell. Capit. Punct. Usg/Exp. TOTAL Con/Est. Data Int. Computation TOTAL Diagrams Material TOTAL GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile Data provided by the Office of Accountability 3

8 FALL PERCENTILE RANK S AND GRADE EQUIVALENT S FOR ALL STUDENTS Table IIa Third Grade ABOVE Third Grade: NATIONAL 50 Cobb County Clay Compton Davis Dowell Due West East Side Eastvalley Fair Oaks Ford Frey Garrison Mill Green Acres Harmony-Leland Hayes Hendricks Hollydale Keheley TOTAL* STUDIES Maps/ Ref. Voc. Compre. TOTAL Spell. Capit. Punct. Usg/Exp. TOTAL Con/Est. Data Int. Computation TOTAL Diagrams Material TOTAL GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile Data provided by the Office of Accountability 4

9 FALL PERCENTILE RANK S AND GRADE EQUIVALENT S FOR ALL STUDENTS Table IIa Third Grade ABOVE Third Grade: NATIONAL 50 Cobb County Kemp Kincaid King Springs LaBelle Lewis Mableton Milford Mountain View Mt. Bethel Murdock Nicholson Nickajack Norton Park Picketts Mill Pitner Powder Springs Powers Ferry TOTAL* STUDIES Maps/ Ref. Voc. Compre. TOTAL Spell. Capit. Punct. Usg/Exp. TOTAL Con/Est. Data Int. Computation TOTAL Diagrams Material TOTAL GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile Data provided by the Office of Accountability 5

10 FALL PERCENTILE RANK S AND GRADE EQUIVALENT S FOR ALL STUDENTS Table IIa Third Grade ABOVE Third Grade: NATIONAL 50 Cobb County Riverside Intermediate Shallowford Falls Tritt Varner Vaughan Smyrna Charter Kennesaw Charter Rocky Mount Russell Sanders Sedalia Park Sope Creek Still Teasley Timber Ridge TOTAL* STUDIES Maps/ Ref. Voc. Compre. TOTAL Spell. Capit. Punct. Usg/Exp. TOTAL Con/Est. Data Int. Computation TOTAL Diagrams Material TOTAL GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile Data provided by the Office of Accountability 6

11 FALL PERCENTILE RANK S AND GRADE EQUIVALENT S FOR ALL STUDENTS Table IIb Fifth Grade ABOVE Fifth Grade: NATIONAL 50 Cobb County Acworth Addison Argyle Austell Baker Bells Ferry Belmont Hills Big Shanty Birney Blackwell Brown Brumby Bryant Bullard Chalker Cheatham Hill Clarkdale TOTAL* STUDIES Maps/ Ref. Voc. Compre. TOTAL Spell. Capit. Punct. Usg/Exp. TOTAL Con/Est. Data Int. Computation TOTAL Diagrams Material TOTAL GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile Data provided by the Office of Accountability 7

12 FALL PERCENTILE RANK S AND GRADE EQUIVALENT S FOR ALL STUDENTS Table IIb Fifth Grade ABOVE Fifth Grade: NATIONAL 50 Cobb County Clay Compton Davis Dowell Due West East Side Eastvalley Fair Oaks Ford Frey Garrison Mill Green Acres Harmony-Leland Hayes Hendricks Hollydale Keheley TOTAL* STUDIES Maps/ Ref. Voc. Compre. TOTAL Spell. Capit. Punct. Usg/Exp. TOTAL Con/Est. Data Int. Computation TOTAL Diagrams Material TOTAL GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile Data provided by the Office of Accountability 8

13 FALL PERCENTILE RANK S AND GRADE EQUIVALENT S FOR ALL STUDENTS Table IIb Fifth Grade ABOVE Fifth Grade: NATIONAL 50 Cobb County Kemp Kincaid King Springs LaBelle Lewis Mableton Milford Mountain View Mt. Bethel Murdock Nicholson Nickajack Norton Park Picketts Mill Pitner Powder Springs Powers Ferry TOTAL* STUDIES Maps/ Ref. Voc. Compre. TOTAL Spell. Capit. Punct. Usg/Exp. TOTAL Con/Est. Data Int. Computation TOTAL Diagrams Material TOTAL GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile Data provided by the Office of Accountability 9

14 FALL PERCENTILE RANK S AND GRADE EQUIVALENT S FOR ALL STUDENTS Table IIb Fifth Grade ABOVE Fifth Grade: NATIONAL 50 Cobb County Riverside Intermediate Shallowford Falls Tritt Varner Smyrna Charter Kennesaw Charter Rocky Mount Russell Sanders Sedalia Park Sope Creek Still Teasley Timber Ridge Vaughan TOTAL* STUDIES Maps/ Ref. Voc. Compre. TOTAL Spell. Capit. Punct. Usg/Exp. TOTAL Con/Est. Data Int. Computation TOTAL Diagrams Material TOTAL GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile Data provided by the Office of Accountability 10

15 FALL PERCENTILE RANK S AND GRADE EQUIVALENT S FOR ALL STUDENTS Table IIc Seventh Grade ABOVE Seventh Grade: NATIONAL 50 Cobb County Awtrey Barber Campbell Cooper Daniell Dickerson Dodgen Durham East Cobb Floyd Garrett Griffin Hightower Trail Lindley Lost Mountain Lovinggood Mabry McCleskey McClure Palmer Pine Mountain Data Int. Computation TOTAL Voc. Compre. TOTAL Spell. Capit. Punct. Usg/Exp. TOTAL Con/Est. TOTAL GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile CORE TOTAL* SOCIAL STUDIES Maps/ Diagrams Reference Material COMPOSITE ** Data provided by the Office of Accountability 11

16 FALL PERCENTILE RANK S AND GRADE EQUIVALENT S FOR ALL STUDENTS Table IIc Seventh Grade ABOVE Seventh Grade: NATIONAL 50 Cobb County Simpson Smitha Tapp Smyrna Charter Data Int. Computation TOTAL Voc. Compre. TOTAL Spell. Capit. Punct. Usg/Exp. TOTAL Con/Est. TOTAL GE %tile CORE TOTAL* SOCIAL STUDIES Maps/ Diagrams GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile GE %tile Reference Material COMPOSITE ** Data provided by the Office of Accountability 12