PARCC test results - slight increase in scores overall, white students see drop, Wilson plunges

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The only change I heard about was that there were fewer questions. This allows less room for errors.

Interesting, thanks. Was that only for the 3rd grade test then since that is the only year people are seeing an otherwise unexplainable drop?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The drop at Wilson is bad. I suspect some of it is kids not taking the test and kids not caring about the test. Also, didn't they made Seniors take the Geometry test last year if they hadn't taken it before -- even if they took Geometry at years prior? But that may not explain it all.

But the focus on Wilson ignores the fact that other high schools are still scoring 0% on the math portion. It doesn't matter where your kids go to school, that is alarming when you look at education in DC.

I really don't put too much weight into the test since my smart, white, high SES kids tend to do poorly (sorry Wilson and Deal).

But like you I am shocked at scores of the other high schools. Eastern I actually had hopes for. Tech, horrible. Then you look at the ones they sunk hundreds of millions of dollars renovating -- pathetic. Truly pathetic that those teachers are allowed to continue to work for DCPS.

Oh, right. Must be the teachers. Fire the teachers. Hire new ones. Then check the scores. Wait a minute. We've been here before.

Its not just the teachers. Its the "peer groups." C'mon guys. We know where this is going.

+1. We need to fire the families attending these schools and only allow better families to attend them. Barring that possibility, paying for private school is the answer.

[Anonymous]

Many high schools are focusing on AP to the exclusion of all else. The result: plummeting test scores. You can't give prime feed to 10-20 percent of the herd and expect all your cattle to gain weight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only change I heard about was that there were fewer questions. This allows less room for errors.

Interesting, thanks. Was that only for the 3rd grade test then since that is the only year people are seeing an otherwise unexplainable drop?

I have no idea. Nor do I think you can apply any one data point and call that the "it" factor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many high schools are focusing on AP to the exclusion of all else. The result: plummeting test scores. You can't give prime feed to 10-20 percent of the herd and expect all your cattle to gain weight.

Not in DC.

Banneker is an IB school.
SWW students take many APs and score well - also scored well on PARCC
Latin takes few APs; high school students did better than average
BASIS overemphasizes APs - 10th graders did well on PARCC

[Anonymous]

"But like you I am shocked at scores of the other high schools. Eastern I actually had hopes for. Tech, horrible. Then you look at the ones they sunk hundreds of millions of dollars renovating -- pathetic. Truly pathetic that those teachers are allowed to continue to work for DCPS."

PP, please keep in mind that the test the test is not a graduation requirement in DC. Students (especially in HS) do not feel obligated to take it seriously. (Not surprising that they are more focused on AP exams.) Until DCPS makes the test high-stakes for students, this will continue. Why the biggest impact on Wilson? Maybe the sheer number of students who need to be tested. Not enough computer equipment to test all students at the same time= many days of testing, disrupted learning and frustrated students. Good luck, teachers! Apparently it's all your fault!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"But like you I am shocked at scores of the other high schools. Eastern I actually had hopes for. Tech, horrible. Then you look at the ones they sunk hundreds of millions of dollars renovating -- pathetic. Truly pathetic that those teachers are allowed to continue to work for DCPS."

PP, please keep in mind that the test the test is not a graduation requirement in DC. Students (especially in HS) do not feel obligated to take it seriously. (Not surprising that they are more focused on AP exams.) Until DCPS makes the test high-stakes for students, this will continue. Why the biggest impact on Wilson? Maybe the sheer number of students who need to be tested. Not enough computer equipment to test all students at the same time= many days of testing, disrupted learning and frustrated students. Good luck, teachers! Apparently it's all your fault!

PARCC is supposed to be given in 10th grade. How many Wilson or Eastern students are taking APs in 10th?

[Anonymous]

Quite a few 10th graders at Wilson take AP classes. But last year many upperclassmen were pulled into testing cohorts because they hadn't tested as 10th graders (since the test didn't yet exist). Won't be true in the future, but no doubt had an effect on scores we're looking at now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Quite a few 10th graders at Wilson take AP classes. But last year many upperclassmen were pulled into testing cohorts because they hadn't tested as 10th graders (since the test didn't yet exist). Won't be true in the future, but no doubt had an effect on scores we're looking at now.

Almost all non ELA or special ed 10th graders at Wilson take at least 1 AP, World History. My DC was scheduled to take the PARCC, but declined, as PARCC testing clashed with AP review. As a family, we decided that DC had something to gain from going to the review sessions, and nothing to gain from taking PARCC, especially in a math class which DC completed in middle school. I know of several other families who made that choice, and will make that choice again if the situation repeats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NO schools in DC are test in.

Even at Walls the application test scores don't determine who gets in. That just narrows down the pool. The interviews used to pick the accepted students.

Thank you, I didn't know that.

The point is that they don't even get to the interview if they don't pass the admissions test. Banneker is taking on a more difficult task, and they are succeeding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"But like you I am shocked at scores of the other high schools. Eastern I actually had hopes for. Tech, horrible. Then you look at the ones they sunk hundreds of millions of dollars renovating -- pathetic. Truly pathetic that those teachers are allowed to continue to work for DCPS."

PP, please keep in mind that the test the test is not a graduation requirement in DC. Students (especially in HS) do not feel obligated to take it seriously. (Not surprising that they are more focused on AP exams.) Until DCPS makes the test high-stakes for students, this will continue. Why the biggest impact on Wilson? Maybe the sheer number of students who need to be tested. Not enough computer equipment to test all students at the same time= many days of testing, disrupted learning and frustrated students. Good luck, teachers! Apparently it's all your fault!

PARCC is supposed to be given in 10th grade. How many Wilson or Eastern students are taking APs in 10th?

If they are capable of taking AP then they should be able to pass PRACC!!! It's not a test you have to study for; however, the fact the assessment doesn't count in high school is ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Banneker's ELA score is great. Math almost as good.

Kudos for them for scoring highest in city.

I always knew Banneker deserved more love here!

[Anonymous]

Okay, so Deal feeds into Wilson. So is Deal adequately preparing kids for PARCC. Remember this is an assessment not a test you have to study for; how many Deal kids were bringing down or bringing up the Wilson scores? It would be interesting to track backwards, and I imagine that the principals have already been informed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NO schools in DC are test in.

Even at Walls the application test scores don't determine who gets in. That just narrows down the pool. The interviews used to pick the accepted students.

Thank you, I didn't know that.

The point is that they don't even get to the interview if they don't pass the admissions test. Banneker is taking on a more difficult task, and they are succeeding.

They are succeeding at expelling near half of the incoming class, and educating the other half.

Whether that's more or less difficult, I don't know, and I suspect you don't either.

[Anonymous]

Image a senior, in May, being forced to take a test on a subject they took 2 to 5 years earlier, knowing that that test has no bearing whatsoever on their grades or college prospects.