DRA Test scores

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was told that at our school, they can't give a 5 on the reading section of the Kindergarten report card without having given the DRA typically given to 1st graders.

Interesting -- I didn't know that. Thanks for sharing!

DS has had all 5s on his Kindergarten report card all year. (Well, not the 1st quarter since they do conferences instead of report cards.) He has that DRA "thermometer" sheet that accompanied his report card all year. Do you think they do the 1st grade DRA each quarter or just at the end of the school year?

[Anonymous]

If I remember correctly, they test the first graders at the beginning and the end of the year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
As for the poster that mentioned the 193 in Kindergarten, that is not the DRA, but instead it is the DRA2 word analysis test. It covers letter recognition, sounds, rhyming, and a couple basic sight words.

On the DRA used for 1st grade and up, the child reads a short book to the instructor and is scored on accuracy and comprehension.

PP here with the Kindergartner -- both the DRA2 and DRA were listed on DC's report card. DRA2 was 193 and DRA was 24.

me-again. Yes, they sometimes give the standard DRA test to kindergarteners who are reading well. I was told that at our school, they can't give a 5 on the reading section of the Kindergarten report card without having given the DRA typically given to 1st graders.

My son scored a 193 at the beginning of the year, so instead of the DRA2 at the end of the year, they had the reading specialist give him the DRA which he scored a 28 on. I'm not sure how that will work since they likely won't be willing to test him past a 28 next year, but I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

[Anonymous]

What is the score range on the DRA2? DD got 192, and I know the "passing" for Fall was 61. But I don't know the full range.

[Anonymous]

I think 193 is perfect.

Anonymous wrote:What is the score range on the DRA2? DD got 192, and I know the "passing" for Fall was 61. But I don't know the full range.

[Anonymous]

my first grader was last scored at 24. they just started the 4th quarter of school and are doing year end testing, so we will see if it goes up, but from what i understand it's what is required for 2nd grade in the 3rd quarter of school. : )

[Anonymous]

Last year in 1st grade 1/2 of DC's class ended up a 24 as that was the highest level the teacher would test to. 1/2 of the class was in Junior great books by May. It sounds like DC is a good reader

[Anonymous]

For OP, my child is probably around a 20 or so. I volunteer weekly in the reading class and I spend most of my time with the kids who are a little behind or right on target (very little time with the ones who are ahead). I know where most of the kids in the class are. In a class of 22 kids, there are about 5 who are ahead (some WAY ahead, and a couple like my daughter -- just a little ahead). There are a couple who are noticeably behind the benchmark, and the rest are right on target to hit the DRA 16 for the end of the year (maybe about 4 of these will be an 18 by the end of the year).

So, 16 is really normal, but it's great to be above that. I don't think you can extrapolate that a child whose DRA is above 16 is going to be gifted or in AAP. My child is a good student, and her teacher thinks highly of her, but even if she finishes the year at a 24 DRA, I don't think she's particularly "gifted." She's very well could just be a "good student." (which is all I ask!)

[Anonymous]

Oh, I forgot to mention the kindergarten DRA2... Yes, MANY children will get a 193 by the end of kindy. My daughter did. But, again, that doesn't mean she's a genius... just that they reached the max of what that test measures. It doesn't show a comparitive edge over what other kindergarteners are doing... but who needs competition at this age!

[Anonymous]

We are now just 6 mnths in this country and my son (2nd grade) and daughter (1stgrade) have a DRA of a miserable 16 and 12 as the education background we had come from was not comparable to standards over here. So we are really battling,my son had started at level 10 and now six months later he is at 16,but still not grade level for second grade. Can anyone recommend any tutors or programs for improving DRA levels?

[Anonymous]

PP--my teacher suggested reading with your child nightly. Taking turns reading so you dc can hear how the words flow with the pauses, exclamation, etc... Then ask questions about the content, the action, what do you think will happen next. Tutors may very well help you though, but just sharing some suggestions given to us that really proved helpful.

[Anonymous]

I think my 2nd grader had a 30 DRA at end of year. But, when I questioned it, the teacher explained that they don't test beyond that. So 30 was the highest he could have gotten on the test as they give it. Even though his "actual" score could have been higher.

[Anonymous]

my 2nd grade just finished DRA level 38. and that's the highest level that the teacher could give at the end of 2nd grade.

[Anonymous]

To the woman who moved here six months ago and whose children have low DRA's . . . you are concerned now, but trust me, the schools in this area will work with your children, they will catch up, and they will be okay. My daughter started second grade with a DRA of 3 (for reasons other than yours), they put her with a terrific reading specialist, and by the third quarter of second grade she had a DRA of 24. Before looking at spending big bucks on a private tutor, ask your teacher if your kids can work with the reading specialist at your school. Best of luck to you and your children! They will be fine . . .

[Anonymous]

Correction, all this occurred in first grade.