By RICK KRON
Leader staff writer
Editor’s note: This is the last in a series taking an in-depth look at the annual state results.
“Several of our schools have percentages in the 80s and 90s and that’s certainly heading in the right direction,” explained Dr. Tony Thurman, superintendent of Cabot schools.
In fact, fourth graders at Mountain Springs were among the top in the state with 91 percent meeting or exceeding expectations in English. Likewise, Stagecoach Elementary, with 80 percent of its third graders making the cut in math, was also one of the best in the state on the ACT Asprire test.
“We are pleased with our scores this year, but are aware there is still work to be done,” Thurman said.
A lot of that work needs to be in writing, where scores fluctuated from 55 percent of the fourth-grade students writing on grade level or above at Eastside Elementary to just 9 percent of the third graders at Central making the grade.
“The district teachers continue to engage in professional learning. This year, all elementary teachers have already attended additional training in phonics for reading,” Thurman explained.
He added, “When considering a group of students, this year’s fourth graders improved district-wide in reading, writing and science over their performance from last year.
Dr. Belinda Shook, who heads up the Beebe School District, agreed that writing scores statewide were inconsistent.
She said, “Looking at 12 core areas, our students improved 9 of 12 areas. We are working hard on curriculum alignment, which I believe is a large part of the problem, but we are beginning to see some positive results.”
Shook said, “We have implemented big changes and teachers are receiving high-quality literacy training. In fact, we began training our teachers in the summer of 2016 and will continue offering additional training each summer. As these students progress to the next grade, I believe we will continue to see scores rise. Reading and writing in grades 3-5 need to remain a focus. We are looking at individual student’s scores to see how to help him/her improve and also celebrate successes.”
BEEBE
At the third-grade level, 81 percent met or exceed goals in English, 50 percent did the same in math, 34 percent in science, 31 percent in reading and 24 percent in writing. Fourth grade had 67 percent make the cut in English, 56 percent in math, 40 percent in science, 38 percent in reading, 31 percent in writing.
At the middle school, 67 percent of the fifth-graders did well in English, 50 percent in math, 36 percent in science, 30 percent in reading and 35 percent in writing.
LONOKE
Among third-graders, 56 percent did well in English, 35 percent in math, 26 percent in science, 20 percent in reading and 11 percent in writing. Fourth-grade saw 76 percent of its students meet or exceed goals in English, 40 percent in math, 38 percent in science, 35 percent in reading and 16 percent in writing.
At the fifth-grade level, 74 percent made the cut in English, 42 percent in math, 34 percent in science, 20 percent in reading and 25 percent in writing.
CABOT
At Eastside Elementary, 85 percent of the third-graders met or exceeded expectations in English, 90 percent did the same in math, 51 percent in science, 56 percent in reading and 28 percent in writing. Fourth-grade had 87 percent do well in English, 78 percent in math, 60 percent in science, 65 percent in reading and 55 percent in writing.
Central Elementary had 71 percent of its third graders do well in English, 43 percent in math, 30 percent in science, 39 percent in reading but just 9 percent in writing. Fourth grade also had 71 percent meet or exceed goals in English, 56 percent in math, 48 percent in science and reading and 24 percent in writing.
Among third graders at Westside Elementary, 76 percent made the grade in English, 70 percent in math, 41 percent in science, 46 percent in reading and 23 percent in writing. In fourth grade it was 62 percent meeting or exceeding goals in English, 65 percent in math, 44 percent in science, 45 percent in reading and 35 percent in writing.
Southside Elementary had 83 percent of its third graders make the cut in English, 71 percent did the same in math, 49 percent in science, 47 percent in reading and only 22 percent did well in writing. At the fourth-grade level, 77 percent met or exceed goals in English, 58 percent in math, 46 percent in science, 55 percent in reading and 47 percent in writing.
At Northside Elementary 79 percent of the third graders did well in English, 61 percent in math, 42 percent in science and reading and fell to 21 percent in writing. Fourth grade had 84 percent of its students make the cut in English, 67 percent in math, 51 percent in science, 60 percent in reading and 44 percent in writing.
Ward Central saw 72 percent of its third graders meet or exceed goals in English, 53 percent in math, 33 percent in science, 34 percent in reading, but only 19 percent in writing. Fourth grade had 61 percent of its students do well in English, 55 percent in math, 38 percent in science and reading and, like the third graders, just 19 percent did well in writing.
Magness Creek third-graders were 87 percent proficient in English, 82 percent in math, 63 percent in science, 69 percent in reading and 34 percent in writing. Fourth grade saw 83 percent do well in English, 61 percent in math, 59 percent in English, 66 percent in reading and fell to 20 percent made the grade in writing.
About 76 percent of third graders at Stagecoach Elementary met or exceeded goals in English, 80 percent in math, 50 percent in science, 53 percent in reading, but fell to 21 percent in writing. Fourth grade had 82 percent do well in English, 80 percent in math, 51 percent in science, 61 percent in reading and 35 percent in writing.
Mountain Springs had 86 percent of its third graders make the cut in English, 72 percent in math, 53 percent in science, 58 percent in reading, but only 14 percent did well in writing. At the fourth- grade level 91 percent met or exceeded goals in English, 78 percent in math, 68 percent in science, 73 percent in reading and 26 percent in writing.
Fifth graders at Cabot Middle School South were 80 percent ready or exceeding in English, 66 percent made the cut in math, 47 percent in science, 48 percent in reading and 51 percent in writing.
At Cabot Middle School North, 77 percent of the fifth graders did well in English, 62 percent in math, 50 percent in science, 48 percent in reading and 50 percent in writing.
CARLISLE
At the third-grade level, 74 percent of the students did well in English, 54 percent in math, 32 percent in science, 34 percent in reading and just 2 percent in writing. Fourth grade had 66 percent meet or exceed goals in English, 50 percent in math, 29 percent in science and reading and 18 percent did well in writing. Among fifth graders, 58 percent made the cut in English, 49 percent in math, 33 percent in science, 20 percent in reading and 29 percent in writing.
ENGLAND
In third grade, 74 percent made the grade in English, 63 percent in math, 31 percent in science, just 19 percent in reading and only 4 percent in writing. Among fourth-graders, 76 percent met or exceeded goals in English, 60 percent in math, 36 percent in science, 38 percent in reading and 30 percent in writing.
At the fifth-grade level, 64 percent met or exceeded goals in English, 42 percent in math, 19 percent in science, 33 percent in reading and 28 percent in writing.