By RICK RKON
Leader staff writer
This is the third in a series of articles taking an in-depth analysis of the 2012 Benchmark and end-of-course exams.
The Cabot School District continues to outperform the state. Five schools have beaten the state every year for the past five years at every grade in both math and literacy. Those schools are Eastside, Magness Creek, Southside, Stagecoach elementary schools and Cabot Middle School South.
Even though no school recorded a 100 percent on any of the 2012 mandated tests like Arnold Drive Elementary on Little Rock Air Force Base did, many of the schools had outstanding scores. Stagecoach Elementary fourth-graders were near perfect with a 98 percent proficiency rate on the math exams. Southside third-graders were 97 percent perfect on the math exams.
In the Beebe School District, third-graders at the intermediate school scored 98 percent proficient or advanced in math and the district students beat the state averages at the third-, fourth- and fifth-grade level.
But scores showed students struggling in Lonoke as none of the grades beat the state average on the 2012 benchmark tests.
The exams are given annually each year as part of the No Child Left Behind Act and test students’ ability to read, write and work math at grade level. A score of proficient or better says the student is at grade level or above.
All students are supposed to be proficient or advanced by the end of the 2013-2014 school year.
CENTRAL
At Central Elementary, third-graders were 75 percent proficient in literacy in 2008 and moved up to 92 percent on the 2012 exams, 10 points above the state average. In math, the students fell backwards, going from 94 percent proficient in 2008 to 91 percent in 2012, but still beating the state mark by four points.
Among fourth-graders, students went from 73 percent proficient in literacy in 2008 to a high of 94 percent in 2011 and then fell to 81 percent in 2012, four points below the state mark. In math, students were at 81 percent proficient in 2008, then 93 percent in 2011 before falling to 89 percent in 2012, but still seven points above the state average.
EASTSIDE
The school has beaten the state average in third and fourth grade over the past five years. Third-graders went from 7 percent proficient in literacy in 2008 to 95 percent in 2012, 13 points over the state mark. In math, students were at 95 percent proficient in 2008, up to 96 percent in 2011 and then down to 94 percent in 2012, still seven points over the state average.
In the fourth grade, students were 75 percent proficient in literacy in 2008 and 89 percent in 2012, four points better than the state average. In math, students stayed pretty consistent, going from 90 percent proficient in 2008 to 91 percent in 2012, nine points above the state average.
MAGNESS CREEK
Students at this school also beat the state average in every grade and subject over the past five years. In third grade, students were at 79 percent proficient in literary in 2008, topped off at 90 percent in 2011 and then 83 percent in 2012, just a point over the state average. In math, students were at 98 percent proficient in 2008, up to 99 percent the next year and then at 94 percent in 2012, seven points better than the state mark.
In fourth grade, students were 88 percent proficient in literacy in 2008 and 96 percent in 2012, 11 points over the state average. In math, students fell slightly backwards going from 93 percent in 2008 to 94 percent in 2011 and then 92 percent in 2012, up 10 points from the state mark.
MOUNTAIN SPRINGS
Mountain Springs has been open for only two years, but both years beat the state averages. In third grade, students were 84 percent proficient in literacy in 2011 and 95 percent in 2012, 13 points over the state average. In math, students were 94 percent proficient in 2011 and 95 percent proficient in 2012, eight points over the state average.
In fourth grade, students were 92 percent proficient in 2011 and 96 percent in 2012, 11 points better than the state. In math, students went from 98 percent proficient in 2011 to 95 percent in 2012, 13 points over the state average.
NORTHSIDE
In the third grade, students went from 66 percent proficient in 2008 to 86 percent in 2011 and then 83 percent in 2012, a point better than the state average. In math, students fell back slightly going from 89 percent in 2008 to 91 percent in 2011 and then 88 percent in 2012, still a point better than the state average.
Among fourth-graders, 80 percent of the students were proficient in literacy in 2008 and 91 percent in 2012, six points better than the state. In math, 82 percent were proficient in 2008, up to 94 percent in 2011, then down to 87 percent in 2012, still five points better than the state average.
SOUTHSIDE
Southside students have also beaten the state averages every year over the past five years. In third grade, 77 percent of the students were proficient in literacy in 2008 and 88 percent in 2012, six points better than the state average. In math, students were 84 percent proficient in 2008 and 97 percent proficient in 2012, 10 points better than the state mark.
In the fourth grade, students were 84 percent proficient in literacy in 2008 and at 88 percent proficient the last three years, three points better than the state. In math, students fell slightly, going from 90 percent proficient in 2008 to 88 percent in 2012, still six points above the state average.
STAGECOACH
Stagecoach Elementary was another Cabot school where students beat the state average in literacy and math over the past five years. In the third grade, students were 80 percent proficient in 2008, topped out at 88 percent in 2011 and then fell to 86 percent in 2012, still four points better than the state mark. In math, students went from 99 percent proficient in 2008 to 95 percent in 2012, eight points above the state average.
In fourth grade, students were 72 percent proficient in 2008 in literacy and 95 percent proficient in 2011 and 2012, 10 points over the state mark. In math, students went from 88 percent proficient in 2008 to 98 percent (best in the district) in 2012, 16 points better than the state average.
WARD CENTRAL
In third grade, students went from 59 percent proficient in 2008 to 85 percent in 2012, three points above the state average. In math, students went from 82 percent in 2008 to 90 percent in 2012, again three points better than the state.
Among fourth-graders, students were 64 percent proficient in 2008 in literacy and 93 percent in 2012, eight points better than the state. In math, students went from 75 percent proficient in 2008 to 90 percent in 2012, eight points better than the state mark.
WESTSIDE
In third grade, students went from 75 percent proficient in literacy in 2008 to 70 percent in 2010, then 84 percent in 2012, two points above the state mark. In math, students went from 79 percent proficient in 2008 to 93 percent in 2012, six points better than the state average.
For fourth grade, 82 percent of the students were proficient in literacy in 2008, then it fell to 77 percent in 2009 and up to 89 percent in 2012, four points above the state mark. In math, students went from 86 percent proficient in 2008 to 84 percent in 2012, still two points better than the state.
CABOT MIDDLE SOUTH
Fifth-graders were 79 percent proficient in literacy in 2008 and moved up to 93 percent in 2012, seven points over the state mark. In math, students went from 76 percent proficient to 88 percent in 2011 and then 86 percent in 2012, 10 points better than the state mark.
CABOT MIDDLE NORTH
Fifth-graders went from 76 percent proficient in literacy in 2008 to 86 percent proficient the last two years, even with the state average. In math, students went from 72 percent proficient in 2008 to 87 percent in 2012, 11 points above the state average.
BEEBE
Test data for Beebe Elementary starts with the 2009-2010 school year. In 2010, third-graders were 71 percent proficient in literacy and went up to 87 percent in 2012, five points better than the state. In math, the students went from 84 percent proficient in 2010 to 96 percent in 2012; nine points better than the state mark. In fourth grade, scores went from 84 percent proficient in literacy in 2010 to 90 percent in 2012, five points above the state mark. In math, the scores went from 89 percent proficient in 2010 to 96 percent in 2012, 14 points better than the state.
At Beebe Intermediate, students in the third grade were at 68 percent in 2008, down to 66 percent in 2010, then up to 90 percent in 2012, eight points more than the state mark. In math, 86 percent of the students were proficient in 2008 and a near-perfect 98 percent in 2012, 12 points better than the state.
In fourth grade, students were at 73 percent proficient in 2008 in literacy and 92 percent proficient in 2012, seven points above the state average.
In math, students went from 84 percent proficient in 2008 to 89 percent in 2012, seven points better than the state mark.
At Beebe Middle School, fifth-graders were 68 percent proficient in literacy in 2008 and 89 percent in 2012, three points above the state mark. In math, students went from 74 percent proficient in 2008, up to 84 percent in 2011 and then 79 percent in 2012, three points better than the state.
LONOKE
Third-graders in Lonoke were at 61 percent proficient in literacy in 2008 and 78 percent in 2012, four points below the state mark. In math, students went from 80 percent proficient in 2008 to 88 percent in 2011, then down to 84 percent in 2012, three points off the state mark.
Fourth-graders were at 66 percent proficient in 2008 in literacy and 81 percent in 2012, down four points from the average. In math, students went from 76 percent proficient in 2008 to 82 percent in 2012, even with the state.
Among fifth-graders, 68 percent were proficient in 2008 in literacy and 85 percent in 2012, one point off the pace. In math, 66 percent of fifth-graders were proficient in 2008 and 75 percent in 2012, a point below the state average.
