Charleston Post & Courier
Saturday, September 16, 2006
PACT: Good news and bad
BY DIETTE COURRÉGÉ AND MINDY B. HAGEN
Depending on how you slice the data, South Carolina schools performed
both better and worse than last year on the state Palmetto Achievement
Challenge Test, according to results released Friday. Some
students made gains while others failed to meet required standards, but
this year's scores showed no clear-cut trend of improvement or failure
across subjects or grades when measured against 2005.
Despite this year's mixed results, State Superintendent of Education
Inez Tenenbaum emphasized the state's long-term progress. She cited
examples, such as a more than 20-percentage-point jump for third-grade
students meeting state reading standards this year since the start of
Palmetto Achievement Challenge Tests in 1999. "It will be
difficult with the rigor of our standards for us to continue to see
improvement," she said. "We've raised our bar so high that it's going
to be a struggle."
Students in third through eighth grades take English/language arts,
math, science and social studies exams, for a total of 24 areas.
Students' scores fall into one of four categories - below basic,
basic, proficient and advanced. Below basic means the student is not
ready for the next grade level. Basic means the student is minimally
prepared.
Statewide, higher percentages of students failed to meet state
standards in more areas than they surpassed them, a trend that held
true in Charleston, Dorchester 2 and Colleton. Berkeley was split and
Dorchester 4 improved in one more area compared to last year. The
instruction and curriculum in schools are based on what's tested on the
PACT exams, which show schools' performance in relation to one another
and the state. The state report card and federal No Child Left Behind
ratings are tied directly to the scores, and schools that fail to
measure up face consequences.
Colleton County school district scores were the most dismal in the
Lowcountry. The percentage of students meeting state standards fell
below the state average in all of the 24 categories, and the district's
scores were lower than every other local district in all but six areas.
In nine areas, more than 50 percent of pupils scored below basic.
"I've got to admit I was disappointed when I saw them," Superintendent
Charles Gale said. "I was really expecting them to look better."
Still, he highlighted some areas where district officials were
pleased, such as Cottageville Elementary's fifth grade, which made
gains of more than 10 percentage points in three subjects.
Gale said the lower scores could be linked to the district's teacher
shortages, turnover and lack of experience. The district replaces
roughly 50 of its 500 teachers every year, and at least two science
classrooms at one middle school had long-term substitutes throughout
the year, he said. Gale said he plans to focus this year on
implementing a new kindergarten through eighth-grade curriculum, and
he's hopeful that it will have a positive impact.
On the flip side, suburban Dorchester District 2 again scored the
highest of any local district, as students posted results that beat the
state average in every grade and every subject. Superintendent
Joe Pye praised the improvements made at some schools, such as the
language arts jumps made by fourth-graders at Knightsville Elementary
and fifth-graders at Newington Elementary. "We are making some
steady gains, but I'd like to be going faster and making some giant
leaps," Pye said. "The bar keeps raising on achievement, and we want to
move forward fast enough to keep up."
Charleston County officials were quick to point out the increasing
percentage of students scoring proficient and advanced in
English/language arts. But the district also has an increasing number
of students scoring below basic in science and math. "We do have
a split district," said Janet Rose, the district's director of
assessment and accountability. She said the district's increases and
decreases mirrored statewide trends. Its highest ranking was 18th
for seventh-grade social studies, and its lowest was 46th for seventh-
and eighth-grade math out of the 85 school districts statewide.
"We are rolling out a strategic plan, and this begins to show that it's
working," said Chief Academic Officer Nancy McGinley. While happy
about English/language arts scores, McGinley said she was concerned
about math scores. For that reason, the district formed a math task
force that will recommend instructional changes within two months. They
plan to do the same for science and social studies next, she said.
The theme of mixed PACT results also applies to Berkeley County
schools, where officials were pleased with long-term gains in math but
troubled by the lack of similar progress in English. This year,
three grades saw slightly improved math scores and three others
experienced small declines. But since the PACT tests began six years
ago, Berkeley has doubled its percentage of students scoring proficient
and advanced on math, said Michael Turner, the district's assistant
superintendent for learning services.
That's not the case with language arts, so the district will focus its
attention on boosting reading scores by emphasizing a comprehensive
reading curriculum that centers on early literacy this year. "We
know we have to improve," Turner said. "Literacy is key, and we'll be
putting our main efforts there this year."
Officials planned to celebrate the success of Macedonia Middle School,
a rural school where PACT scores in every grade ranked above the state
average in each subject. "We tell our students that if anyone
else can do it, we can also do it and do it better," said Macedonia
Principal Janie Langley. "We are rural, but we don't use that as an
excuse. It's not a reason why our children can't succeed."
In rural Dorchester District 4, both elementary schools made strides.
Students at Williams Memorial posted scores above the state average in
a majority of subjects and third- and fourth-grade pupils at
Harleyville-Ridgeville improved in all areas. Still, interim
Superintendent Jerry Montjoy said he's planning to take a long look at
the district's middle school curriculum. Roughly 60 percent of students
in all grades at St. George Middle School scored below basic in science.
"We'll be looking at all of our programs in the middle grades, and if
they aren't working, we'll get rid of them," Montjoy said. "Our
elementary schools are right on target, so our main thrust needs to be
on developing our middle schools."
Reach Diette Courrégé at dcourrege@postandcourier.com. Reach Mindy Hagen at mhagen@postandcourier.com
Charleston County PACT scores are available from the State Department of Education.
Return ... to CCSD District #10