Test scores rise in Oklahoma City schools for second consecutive year

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Test scores on exams taken by eighth-graders in the Oklahoma City school district dropped in all subjects tested except math, officials said Thursday. <br/><br/>But for the second consecutive

Friday, June 10th 2005, 6:21 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Test scores on exams taken by eighth-graders in the Oklahoma City school district dropped in all subjects tested except math, officials said Thursday.

But for the second consecutive year, test scores for Oklahoma City fifth-graders rose with some schools doubling overall performance in math and reading from a year ago, officials said.

The percentage of district fifth-graders scoring satisfactory or better in math and reading rose 7 percent from last year. Fifth-grade writing scores rose by 9 percent, though it's still down from 2003.

The test scores were welcomed by state Superintendent of Schools Sandy Garrett, who met with principals and teachers at North Highland Elementary.

``This is a very happy day for all of you,'' Garrett said. ``We've been working in the rain, seeking support of parents and community members, but we didn't let the storm get us down.

``We're going to have the brightest urban district in America.''

The largest math gains were reported at North Highland and Rockwood elementaries, where students doubled and surpassed last year's scores, respectively. At Johnson Elementary, 100 percent of students scored satisfactory in math.

``The success and achievement we have is truly about quality teachers providing quality instruction in the classroom,'' district Superintendent Bob Moore said.

Seventeen of the district's schools improved scores in all five areas tested _ math, reading, science, social studies and writing.

Math scores, though, dropped significantly at Dewey Elementary, 25 percent satisfactory, down from 68 percent last year, and Westwood Elementary, from 96 percent to 58 percent.

Reading scores doubled at Gatewood Elementary and almost tripled at North Highland, district records show.

Large drops in the percentage of students scoring satisfactory in reading were reported at Arthur, Dewey, Pierce and Westwood elementaries.

The largest drops across the district were on the writing test at the eighth-grade level. The percentage of students scoring satisfactory dropped from 64 to 45.

Garrett said students each year must learn four styles of writing, descriptive, expository, narrative and persuasive, but are only tested in one area, which is picked randomly by the testing company.

One style of writing might be simpler for one group of students than another, she said, explaining the large change this year.

Eighth-grade math scores rose by 3 percent to 59 percent satisfactory. Reading and science decreased by 2 percent, 56 and 60 percent, respectively.