Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anybody else remember taking CAT (California Achievement Test) and ITBS (Iowa Test of Basic Skills) tests? They're the standardized tests I took growing up. As I recall, rather than testing to see if you knew grade level material, they tested to see what grade level you were at. Rather than having extensive test prep, we were specifically told that there was no way to study for them; we should just relax and do our best.

I grew up in MD and remember taking both of them. The test scores were sent to parents but they weren't used as a report card for the school like PARCC scores are. You can basically rank the school based off SES anyway. What's the point of PARCC scores anyway?

It is true that school's PARCC average scores will mostly just reflect a school's SES average. However, it is useful at an individual level.

+ 1. It is useful at an individual level. National, state, county, school level scores are worthless now. They are average scores and majority of kids nationwide are below grade level. You should be concerned if they are at a 3 or below and give them the support that they need at home. Within 4 and 5 look for an upward movement as well as check how they are doing compared to their peers.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 3rd grader scored 850, the highest score in the 5 range, in math. How common is this? We knew math came easily to him but we’re wondering now if he needs some special extra enrichment to fulfill his math desires. I’m truly not trying to be insufferable here. Our other child has never scored anything like this so we’re in new territory.

Mine got an 849! Pretty uncommon - my kid missed one problem and yours missed none.

If the MAP scores also correlate, which is likely, just be sure s/he gets into Compacted Math for 4th. That's pretty much all you can do.

Anonymous wrote:My 3rd grader scored 850, the highest score in the 5 range, in math. How common is this? We knew math came easily to him but we’re wondering now if he needs some special extra enrichment to fulfill his math desires. I’m truly not trying to be insufferable here. Our other child has never scored anything like this so we’re in new territory.

Mine got an 849! Pretty uncommon - my kid missed one problem and yours missed none.

Do these scores ever show up in the parent portal?

My 3rd grader scored 850, the highest score in the 5 range, in math. How common is this? We knew math came easily to him but we’re wondering now if he needs some special extra enrichment to fulfill his math desires. I’m truly not trying to be insufferable here. Our other child has never scored anything like this so we’re in new territory.

My kid has never scored higher than 4s, and last year scored a 3 in the ELA portion. He is at a W feeder middle school, has straight As and is on the accelerated math track. I think the DCC schools sound even stronger than the W feeders . Clearly I am being tongue in cheek because I know that standardozed testing is not the be all end all, but if my child scored 5s in each section, I would feel very confident that he is getting an excellent education.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anybody else remember taking CAT (California Achievement Test) and ITBS (Iowa Test of Basic Skills) tests? They're the standardized tests I took growing up. As I recall, rather than testing to see if you knew grade level material, they tested to see what grade level you were at. Rather than having extensive test prep, we were specifically told that there was no way to study for them; we should just relax and do our best.

I grew up in MD and remember taking both of them. The test scores were sent to parents but they weren't used as a report card for the school like PARCC scores are. You can basically rank the school based off SES anyway. What's the point of PARCC scores anyway?

It is true that school's PARCC average scores will mostly just reflect a school's SES average. However, it is useful at an individual level.

This, as evidenced by the posters noting that they are at high needs schools with kids scoring well. It's one more metric that the kids are doing well, despite, you know, dodging MS13 initiation ceremonies all day or however W parents on DCUM think our kids spend their school time.

My kid has always scored a 5 on them. How is this useful info other than public school is too easy?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anybody else remember taking CAT (California Achievement Test) and ITBS (Iowa Test of Basic Skills) tests? They're the standardized tests I took growing up. As I recall, rather than testing to see if you knew grade level material, they tested to see what grade level you were at. Rather than having extensive test prep, we were specifically told that there was no way to study for them; we should just relax and do our best.

I grew up in MD and remember taking both of them. The test scores were sent to parents but they weren't used as a report card for the school like PARCC scores are. You can basically rank the school based off SES anyway. What's the point of PARCC scores anyway?

It is true that school's PARCC average scores will mostly just reflect a school's SES average. However, it is useful at an individual level.

Anonymous wrote:4th grader in a DCC Focus School. High 5s on both, VERY high 5 on one.

ditto!

Anonymous wrote: The report also specifies what percentile the student was compared to other students who were in the same level as the student last year.

I think that is the important bit of info. If your kid is performing at a 5 (advanced level), then they probably have been at that level each year along with other advanced students. Did they become better or worse than other students at the same level? That is more of an apples to apples comparison.

Thanks, this is very helpful.

The report also specifies what percentile the student was compared to other students who were in the same level as the student last year.

I think that is the important bit of info. If your kid is performing at a 5 (advanced level), then they probably have been at that level each year along with other advanced students. Did they become better or worse than other students at the same level? That is more of an apples to apples comparison.

Anonymous wrote:Does anybody else remember taking CAT (California Achievement Test) and ITBS (Iowa Test of Basic Skills) tests? They're the standardized tests I took growing up. As I recall, rather than testing to see if you knew grade level material, they tested to see what grade level you were at. Rather than having extensive test prep, we were specifically told that there was no way to study for them; we should just relax and do our best.

I grew up in MD and remember taking both of them. The test scores were sent to parents but they weren't used as a report card for the school like PARCC scores are. You can basically rank the school based off SES anyway. What's the point of PARCC scores anyway?

Anonymous wrote:4th grader in a DCC Focus School. High 5s on both, VERY high 5 on one.

Congratulations....what number can the Nobel prize committee reach you at?

4th grader in a DCC Focus School. High 5s on both, VERY high 5 on one.