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WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. White Plains School District students in grades three through eight showed improved New York State standardized tests scores in 2012, but still trail Westchester County averages, according to results released Tuesday by the state education department.
Students test scores fall into one of four categories. The first two indicate a student is below proficiency. A student at level three meets the proficiency standard, while a level four student exceeds it.
White Plains had 56.7 percent of students in those grades meet or exceed the proficiency standard on the English Language Arts (ELA) test, and 67.42 percent meet or exceed the proficiency standard on the math test. While both averages are just over one point higher than last year's scores, both fall below the county-wide averages.
In all of Westchester County 65.96 percent of the students scored at or above the proficiency standard on the ELA tests and 73 percent scored at or above the proficiency standard on the math tests.
Statewide, test scores were on the rise, as 55.1 percent of third- through eighth-graders met or exceeded the ELA proficiency standard and 64.8 percent met or exceeded the standard in math.
"There is some positive momentum in these numbers," said Board of Regents Chancellor Merryl H. Tisch in a release. "But too many of our students, especially students of color, English Language Learners and special education students, are currently not on a course for college and career readiness."
According to the state, as a result of raising the bar for what it means to be proficient in ELA and math, fewer students met or exceeded the standard in 2010. In 2012, progress toward the new ELA standard varied by grade, though progress toward the math standard increased slightly.
John B. King Jr., commissioner of the state education department, said the tests will get even harder in 2013 when the the department implements the Regents Reform Agenda, which includes new college- and career-ready standards and a new "fair and transparent teacher and principal evaluation system."
Test results are available in a variety of formats on the state Education Department website.
Do you have kids in the White Plains School District? What do you think of local schools? What are your thoughts on the state scores? Email thoughts to White Plains reporter Brian Donnelly.
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