I posted on another thread but since we just got scores for our 3rd grader, it's still on my mind. My DS scored a 289 in math (ding, ding, ding, we're the winners for lowest score!). That's a Fail/Basic.

We're actually not surprised by it because since 2nd grade, the school has been doing assessments to see how well he'd score on the actual test vs how he'd score on the Virginia Alternative Assessment. The difference between the two in math was signficant. According to data collected in 2nd and 3rd grade, on the alternative assessments, he scored in the 85% range. On the practice tests he scored in the 61% range. But, as of this year, alternative math assessments are not allowed so he took the test with everyone else and scored a 289 - which is no less than 200 points lower than every other subject.

Did I mention my DS has LDs and receives pull out services? Yeah, he's one of 'those' kids. Believe me, I wish he weren't one of those kids dragging a school's overall scores down. It's extremely stressful for him even though we try and reassure him the scores don't really reflect what he knows. I wish they'd make accomodations for kids like mine. I know he's not the only one in this position.

The purpose of SOL's are to measure the school and the teacher. If you look at sample tests, they are horrible questions. With no room for interpretation or creativity. They do not measure what the student learned, but rather what they spewed.

My 4th grade AAP DD scored 475 math, 545 reading, 600 VA studies

Anonymous wrote:SOL scores are used to judge the teacher and school moreso than to judge the student

Yeah, didn't you get the memo? Kids are no longer accountable for their education.

SOL scores are used to judge the teacher and school moreso than to judge the student

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Last year math 4 600
This year math 6 420 ...after all A's in math all year.
Ouch

Eh, at least it's passing. My DS got a 421.

True. And all things considered, the score doesn't matter at all, so I'm not going to lose any sleep over it.

Why it doesn't matter?

It's a passing score. If a 5th grader gets a 420 on a 6th grade math SOL, it's not going to keep him in or out of college. It's not going to keep him from going to 6th grade. He'll move to 6th grade and the teachers will look at his progress report, any info that passed along from the previous year including the SOL score for planning and placement.

Last year 600 on math 5. This year 504 on math 7.

DD opened her scores before I got home today. She got a 484 in math and is crushed. I wish she had not seen them. It sounds like that was an ok score this year. I keep telling her it's a decent score but she doesn't believe me.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Last year math 4 600
This year math 6 420 ...after all A's in math all year.
Ouch

Eh, at least it's passing. My DS got a 421.

True. And all things considered, the score doesn't matter at all, so I'm not going to lose any sleep over it.

Why it doesn't matter?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Last year math 4 600
This year math 6 420 ...after all A's in math all year.
Ouch

Eh, at least it's passing. My DS got a 421.

True. And all things considered, the score doesn't matter at all, so I'm not going to lose any sleep over it.