Standardized Test Scores in WV Released

Student educational performance results were released Wednesday, giving teachers, school administrators and parents a better idea on how West Virginia's new accountability system fares.

The results are mixed. Only 28 percent of West Virginia schools met both student performance and growth expectations, earning a Success designation under the new accountability system. Thirty-nine percent earned a Transition designation because they showed progress. Under the accountability system, schools are categorized as a Success, Transition, Focus, Support or a Priority school based on academic progress.

The new system was created to identify struggling schools, ones that are doing well, and gives individual student growth data. It replaces the Adequate Yearly Progress and is the result on the No Child Left Behind Act.

Forty-six percent of students that took the WESTEST2 were proficient in math, 49 percent in reading.
In terms of student growth, 53 percent of students did not meet the proficiency level in math while 50 percent didn't meet the proficiency level in reading.

James Phares, superintendent of schools, said WESTEST questions were harder than ever before and are similar to the ACT, a college readiness assessment. Phares said he is not surprised by the results.

"What I take from it is that we have a lot of work to do, the superintendent said. We know that I'm not disheartened or encouraged, either one. We knew exactly where we were going to be."

Phares said the positive news is that 435 of 652 schools are showing signs of progression.