By RICK KRON
Leader staff writer
All the Arnold Drive Elementary fifth graders who took the literacy portion of the Benchmark exam scored advanced — one of the few groups of fifth graders in the state to do so.
Warren Dupree fifth graders jumped 30 points on the math portion, going from 39 percent proficient or advanced in 2013 to 69 percent this year, moving them above their district’s and the state average.
More than 35,000 students in the fifth and sixth grade took the state-mandated exam in April. In addition to math and literacy, fifth graders were also tested in science. But only math and literacy scores are used to determine if a student is advanced, proficient, basic or below basic. Math and literacy scores are also used to determine if a school is succeeding or failing.
Statewide, fifth graders averaged a 69 percent proficiency rate in math and 82 percent in literacy. Sixth graders, across the state, averaged 71 percent proficient or better in math and 69 percent in literacy.
The sixth graders at Jacksonville Lighthouse’s Flightline Upper Academy did much better than those averages in both math and literacy, scoring 94 percent in math and 91 percent in literacy. Based on Benchmark scores, the academy has been rated in the top 15 percent of middle schools in the state, according to schooldigger.com.
Cabot students also continue to do well with the fifth graders at Cabot Middle School South scoring 94 percent or better in literacy. Sixth graders at Cabot Middle School North had a 90 percent proficiency rate in math.
Janice Walker, principal at Warren Dupree, credited her teachers for the strong showing this year. “They are looking at and working with kids as individuals, getting the students excited about learning and putting in plenty of extra hours.”
At the Flightline Upper Academy, Principal Evan McGrew also credits the teachers. “Our teachers are very experienced and won’t allow a child to fail.” He added that the school uses a looping model so fifth grade teachers move to sixth grade with their students. “It gives continuity, and we don’t have any downtime because the teachers are already familiar with the students.” He said the school is constantly assessing students, using different strategies, like small group and one-on-one teaching. “If 70 percent of the class has not mastered a standard, we reteach it in a different way,” McGrew said.
Here are how area fifth and sixth graders did on the annual Benchmark exam:
FIFTH GRADE
Beebe Middle School fifth graders scored 69 percent proficient or advanced on the math section and 85 percent proficient or better in literacy.
At Searcy’s Southwest Middle School, 73 percent were proficient or better in math, and 88 percent did the same in literacy.
Lonoke students were 63 percent proficient or better in math, and 83 percent did likewise in literacy. England fifth graders were at 68 percent in math and at 70 percent in literacy. At Carlisle, 74 percent of the students made the grade in math, and 88 percent were proficient or advanced in literacy.
Cabot Middle School South students were at 88 percent proficient or advanced in math and at 94 percent in literacy. At Cabot Middle School North, 83 percent made the cut in math, and 87 percent did the same in literacy.
In PCSSD, Bayou Meto students were 77 percent proficient or advanced in math and 84 percent proficient or better in literacy. Clinton students were 55 percent proficient or better in math, and 79 percent did likewise in literacy. At Warren Dupree, 69 percent of the students made the grade in math, and 84 percent did so in literacy.
Harris Elementary was just 29 percent proficient or better in math and 55 percent in literacy. Tolleson had 81 percent of its students make the cut in math, and 88 percent did the same in literacy. Sherwood had 64 percent score proficient or better in math, and 82 percent did likewise in literacy. At Sylvan Hills Elementary, 62 percent made the cut in math, and 82 percent did so in literacy.
Cato students were 72 percent proficient or better in math, and 86 percent did the same in literacy. Pinewood was at 32 percent in math and at 90 percent in literacy.
Arnold Drive students were 75 percent proficient or better in math and 100 percent proficient or advanced in literacy.
Oakbrooke finished with 61 percent proficiency in math and at 85 percent in literacy. Murrell Taylor was at 48 percent proficient or better in math and at 80 percent in literacy.
Lisa Academy North had a 73 percent proficiency rate in math and 77 percent in literacy.
Jacksonville’s Lighthouse Charter Middle School had 52 percent of its students make the grade in math, and 63 percent did the same in literacy. At its Flightline Academy, 59 percent scored proficient or better in math, and 88 percent did likewise in literacy.
SIXTH GRADE
Beebe students were 73 percent proficient or advanced in math and did the same in literacy.
Southwest Middle School in Searcy finished at 83 percent proficient or better in math, and 79 percent made the cut in literacy.
In Lonoke, 70 percent of the sixth graders made the grade in math, and 66 percent did the same in literacy. England students were 66 percent proficient or better in math but fell to 53 percent in literacy. Carlisle had 67 percent of its students make the cut in math, and 78 percent did the same in literacy.
Cabot Middle School South was 86 percent proficient or better in math and had 81 percent make the cut in literacy. At Cabot Middle School North, the proficiency rate was 90 percent in math and 84 percent in literacy.
PCSSD’s Northwood Middle School was 61 percent proficient or advanced in math and 64 percent proficient or better in literacy. Sylvan Hills Middle School finished at 63 percent proficient or better in math and had 66 percent do the same in literacy.
Jacksonville Middle School had 49 percent make the cut in math, and 45 percent did the same in literacy.
Sixth graders at Lisa Academy North were 72 percent proficient or better in math and 75 percent in literacy.
Lighthouse Middle School in Jacksonville was 66 percent proficient or better in math, and 65 percent made the grade in literacy. At The Flightline Upper Academy, 94 percent did well on the math portion, and 91 percent did so in literacy.
