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Albany Schools Maintain Good Showing in 2011 STAR Tests

Albany schools show continued strength in the 2011 STAR tests, which many educators agree are only one piece of school performance, with indications the district is narrowing some of its ethnic achievement gaps.

Albany students continue as strong performers in the , according to 2011 test results, which were released Monday.

At all grade levels, and in all subjects, schools in the met or exceeded the state’s STAR goal that all students reach the “proficient” level, which means they understand and master the material of their grade level.

The STAR, or Standardized Testing and Reporting, test is actually a combination of tests in different subjects given at different grade levels.

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Easily meeting, exceeding statewide goals

In English Language Arts for grades two through 11, for example, 50.2 percent of Albany students tested at the highest or “advanced” level in 2011, with 27 percent scoring “proficient.” Added together, 77.2 percent of students met state goals.

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By comparison, , 48 percent of students tested advanced in English Language Arts and 27.4 percent proficient, for 75.4 percent meeting the state goal.

In 2011, in general math for grades two through seven, 53.7 percent of students scored advanced and 30 percent proficient, for 83.7 percent meeting the goal. 

In 2010, 56.1 percent of students in this area rated advanced, with 25.6 percent proficient, for a total of 81.7 percent at goal.

Compared to the average of all schools in Alameda County, Albany was well above the curve.

For example, the average 2011 English Language Arts test result for all of Alameda County was 33.4 percent scoring “advanced,” and 26.3 percent “proficient,” or 59.7 percent meeting the state goal. 

In grades two through seven mathematics, Alameda County students averaged 38.8 percent of students testing advanced, and 26.8 percent testing proficient, for a total of 61.9 percent at goal.

Ethnic achievement gaps show signs of shrinking

While it’s possible to draw some broad conclusions from STAR test results, such as these, the data also reveal detailed information on testing trends between grade levels; comparisons between schools across the state; and comparisons between different groups of Albany students based on categories such as ethnicity, income level, disability, parent education level and English language learners.

To crunch the numbers yourself, take a look at the Department of Education’s STAR page.

Albany Patch will continue to delve into the 2011 results to look at relevant details, which can shed some light, for example, on the school district’s efforts at closing the achievement gaps between African American and Hispanic students, and others.

As have districts nationally, Albany has launched a variety of measures in recent years to close ethnic achievement gaps, including curriculum changes, interventions and counseling.

A slice of 2011 STAR results indicate these steps may be helping.

Among all Albany students who took the English Language Arts test in 2011, 4.2 percent scored "below basic," with 3.7 percent "far below" basic.

Of Albany’s African American students, 8.25 percent tested below basic in English in 2011, with 10.25 percent performing far below.

In 2010, 11.5 percent of African American students in Albany scored below basic in this category, with 10.8 percent scoring far below.  And in 2009, 15.8 percent scored below basic, and 9.3 percent far below.

Among Latinos/Hispanics, in 2011, 7.1 percent tested below basic, and 6.3 percent tested far below. In 2010, 11.1 percent tested below basic and 7.7 percent far below, and in 2009, 12.2 percent were below, with 9 percent far below.

These results indicate a slight but significant gap-closing trend in recent years.

Standardized tests only one piece of school performance

When students sweat the STAR tests in spring, and whenever results are announced, many educators advocate for a calm, moderate view of results, saying standardized tests only provide one look at school and student performance, and shouldn’t be over-emphasized.

In a press release on the STAR results, State Superintendent of Education Tom Torlakson said test scores statewide have moved upward.

In English, 54 percent of students across the state scored proficient or above in 2011, with 50 percent meeting this standard in math. In both subjects, this represents a 2 percent gain from 2010 scores, he said, and are the highest percentages since the testing program started in 2003.

But concern about achievement gaps persists, Torlakson said.

Albany officials were not available for comment Monday.

Everybody makes mistakes ... ! If there's something in this article you think should be corrected, or if something else is amiss, call editor Emilie Raguso at 510-459-8325 or email her at emilier@patch.com. 

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