ECISD test scores show growth; district still trails state

Ector County Independent School District released scores for the 2018 administration of the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness tests Tuesday and said they show growth in many areas.

The district has eight campuses on improvement required status under state accountability regulations. Ector Middle School, Noel and Zavala elementary are in their fifth year. If the campuses don’t come off the list, they will face closure or the Texas Education Commissioner will appoint a board of managers over the whole district.

“Of the eight schools that are on the improvement required list, we are hopeful that the majority of them can come off the list based on their preliminary data in student growth. We are very hopeful our schools are going to make it. For most of them, it is down to a few kids that determine if they meet standard or not. A few variables must still be taken into account. For example, students who moved to or from another school or district are included in the results. By August, all of the data released will be final with all variables including removing the results from the disputed online testing that occurred in the spring,” Superintendent Tom Crowe said in a news release.

The state results give students a STAAR performance level of masters grade level, meets grade level, approaches grade level or did not meet grade level. Performance labels of masters, meets or approaches indicate the students passed the test.

The release said the labels are meant to provide clear, accurate information for parents on how their child is performing, in terms of meeting grade level, the release said. ECISD scores show improvement, but still trail state results.

At the elementary level, ECISD saw gains across all grade levels and all tested subjects when comparing year to year performance, the release said. At the middle school and high school level, ECISD also gained in six of the tested grade levels and subject areas.

In math, Ector and Bonham middle schools, Austin Montessori, Blackshear, Blanton, Buice, Burleson, Downing, Goliad, Gonzales, Jordan, LBJ, Milam, Murry Fly, Noel, Pease, San Jacinto, Travis, Buddy West and Zavala elementary schools showed double-digit gains in one grade level or more.

In reading/English language arts, Falcon Early College High School, Austin, Blanton, Cameron, Downing, Buddy West, Goliad, Ireland, LBJ, Jordan, Milam, Murry Fly, Noel, Pease, Ross, San Jacinto, Sam Houston and Travis had double-digit gains in one or more grade levels.

Goliad, Jordan, Murry Fly, Noel, Buddy West, Zavala and Ector County Youth Center all posted double-digit gains in science.

WRITING

Fifty-one percent of ECISD students tested in writing in spring 2018 approached grade level or higher; 27 percent met grade level or higher; and 5 percent were at masters grade level or higher.

Of the seventh-graders tested in ECISD, 48 percent approached grade level or higher in writing; 23 percent met grade level; and 5 percent mastered grade level or higher, the release said.

Statewide, 61 percent approached grade level; 38 percent met grade level; and 10 percent mastered grade level.

Sixty-seven percent of seventh-graders approached grade level; 41 percent met grade level; and 14 percent mastered grade level.

SCIENCE

• In science, 66 percent of fifth-graders in ECISD approached grade level or higher; 27 percent met grade level or higher; and 9 percent mastered grade level or higher.
• Among ECISD eighth-graders, 60 percent approached grade level or higher in science; 32 percent met grade level or higher; and 12 percent mastered grade level or higher, the release said.
• Statewide in science, 75 percent of fifth-graders approached grade level or higher; 40 percent met grade level or higher; and 16 percent mastered grade level or higher.
• For eighth-graders statewide, 74 percent approached grade level; 50 percent met grade level; and 27 percent mastered grade level.

SOCIAL STUDIES

• In social studies, 35 percent of ECISD eighth-graders approached grade level; 9 percent met grade level; and 3 percent mastered grade level.
• Statewide, 64 percent of eighth-graders approached grade level; 34 percent met grade level; and 20 percent mastered grade level.

MATH

• In math, ECISD 67 percent of ECISD third-graders approached grade level or higher; 35 percent met grade level or higher; and 15 percent mastered grade level or higher.
• Statewide, 77 percent of third-graders approached grade level; 46 percent met grade level; and 23 percent mastered grade level.
• In ECISD, 68 percent of fourth-graders taking the math test approached grade level; 36 percent met grade level; and 16 percent mastered grade level.
• Statewide in math, 78 percent of fourth-graders approached grade level; 47 percent met grade level; and 26 percent mastered grade level.
• In fifth-grade math in ECISD, 74 percent approached grade level; 41 percent met grade level; and 17 percent mastered grade level.
• Statewide, 84 percent of fifth-graders taking the math test approached grade level; 57 percent met grade level; and 30 percent mastered grade level.
• Sixty-percent of ECISD sixth-graders approached grade level in math; 23 percent met grade level; and 6 percent mastered grade level.
• Statewide, 76 percent of sixth-graders approached grade level in math; 43 percent met grade level; and 17 percent mastered grade level.
• In ECISD, 52 percent of seventh-graders approached grade level in math; 20 percent met grade level; and 7 percent mastered grade level.
• Statewide, 71 percent of seventh-graders approached grade level in math; 38 percent met grade level; and 17 percent mastered grade level.
• Fifty-percent of ECISD eighth-graders approached grade level in math; 16 percent met grade level; and 2 percent mastered grade level.
• Statewide, 78 percent of eighth-graders approached grade level in math; 49 percent met grade level; and 15 percent mastered grade level.

READING

• In reading in ECISD, 68 percent of third-graders approached grade level; 30 percent met grade level; and 16 percent mastered grade level.
• Statewide in reading, 76 percent of third-graders approached grade level; 42 percent met grade level; and 24 percent mastered grade level.
• In ECISD, 60 percent of fourth-graders approached grade level in reading; 33 percent met grade level; and 16 percent mastered grade level.
• Statewide, 72 percent of fourth-graders approached grade level in reading; 45 percent met grade level; and 24 percent mastered grade level.
• Sixty-three percent of fifth-graders in ECISD approached grade level in reading; 36 percent met grade level; and 13 percent mastered grade level.
• Statewide, 78 percent of fifth-graders approached grade level in reading; 51 percent met grade level; and 25 percent mastered grade level.
• In ECISD, 46 percent of sixth-graders approached grade level in reading; 19 percent met grade level; and 7 percent mastered grade level.
• Statewide in reading, 66 percent of sixth-graders approached grade level; 36 percent met grade level; and 18 percent mastered grade level.
• ECISD had 52 percent of seventh-graders approaching grade level in reading; 25 percent met grade level; and 12 percent mastered grade level.
• Statewide, 72 percent of seventh-graders approached grade level in reading; 45 percent met grade level; and 27 percent mastered grade level.
• Fifty-nine percent of eighth-graders in ECISD approached grade level in reading; 26 percent met grade level; and 11 percent mastered grade level.
• Statewide, 76 percent of eighth-graders approached grade level in reading; 46 percent met grade level; and 25 percent mastered grade level.

END-OF-COURSE EXAMS

• In end-of-course exams, 69 percen
  t of ECISD students approached grade level in algebra I; 30 percent met grade level; and 11 percent mastered grade level.
• Statewide, 83 percent of students tested approached grade level; 56 percent met grade level; and 33 percent mastered grade level.
• In English 1, 47 percent of ECISD students tested approached grade level; 30 percent met grade level; and 3 percent mastered grade level.
• In English I statewide, 60 percent approached grade level; 44 percent met grade level; and 7 percent mastered grade level.
• In English II at ECISD, 57 percent approached grade level; 38 percent met grade level; and 3 percent mastered grade level.
• Statewide in English II, 66 percent approached grade level; 50 percent met grade level; and 8 percent mastered grade level.
• In biology, 83 percent of ECISD students tested approached grade level; 48 percent met grade level; and 12 percent mastered grade level.
• Statewide, 87 percent of students approached grade level in biology; 60 percent met grade level; and 24 percent mastered grade level.
• In U.S. history at ECISD, 88 percent of students tested approached grade level; 60 percent met grade level; and 29 percent mastered grade level.
• Statewide in U.S. history, 92 percent approached grade level; 72 percent met grade level; and 42 percent mastered grade level.