Alpine School District's Stanford Achievement Test scores have improved slightly in two age groups since 1992. Once again they are some of the best in Utah and the nation.
However, the district continues to struggle in language and spelling. The eighth-grade scores were again the district's lowest.Seven of the district's 18 fifth-grade subject scores increased from 1992, nine subject scores remained the same and two decreased. None of the scores was lower than comparable Utah scores, and 15 were higher than state scores. The district outscored the nation in all areas.
"In every case, Alpine School District did better or just as well as the state and always better than the nation," said Frank Cameron, district director of research and evaluation.
The district's fifth-grade total battery score increased one percentile over 1992. Sixteen schools' fifth-grade scores increased, while 14 schools' scores decreased. Several schools, led by Suncrest, Shelley, Lindon and Manila elementary schools, showed dramatic improvement. Scores at Windsor, Scera Park and Geneva elementary schools decreased the most.
Consistent with scores in the past and state and national scores, the district's eighth-grade scores are the lowest. Even though the district's eighth-grade total battery score only decreased 1 percentile, every school's score but Pleasant Grove decreased from 1992. Students moving from some schools to the new Oak Canyon and Mountain Ridge schools may have contributed to that decrease because both new schools scored above the district average.
In specific subjects, only three of 18 eighth-grade scores increased from 1992. Nine scores remained the same and six decreased. Scores in expression, spelling and study skills were lower than national scores.
The district's 11th-grade scores continue to be impressive. Three high schools had increased scores, while only two decreased. Lehi and Pleasant Grove increased 5 percentile points. Only American Fork showed a significant decrease.
Three 11th-grade subject scores increased from 1992, eight scores remained the same and only the reading vocabulary score decreased. No 11th-grade score was lower than the state scores, and only the spelling score was lower than the national score.
This is the first year that school officials can compare scores from the group of students from earlier scores. Students who took the test as fifth-graders four years ago took the test this year as eighth-graders. This year's 11th-graders took the test in 1990 as eighth-graders.
As was the case all across Utah and the nation, the eighth-grade scores were down in almost every area from the fifth-grade scores. Only three common scores increased, two remained the same and 13 decreased. The total battery from the same group decreased 6 percentile points. Test officials say there's no doubt that junior-high-age students have a lapse in educational motivation.
"It would be my prediction that this is a trend that you can expect to see year after year," Cameron said.
Evidence that the lapse ends in high school is the fact that most 11th-graders improved in scores from eighth grade. Eleven subject scores common to the age group increased, while the other remained the same.
The district's female students scored higher than male students in reading and language subjects, while males scored higher in science and social studies. Elementary-age females scored higher than males in mathematics. Both sexes scored the same on mathematics in eighth grade, but 11th-grade males scored higher in mathematics than females.
Cameron recommends that district officials look at possible curriculum and instructional strategy changes in language and spelling to increase scores in these areas. He also recommends that principals, teachers and parents evaluate school and individual scores to focus on strengths and correct weaknesses.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
SAT results: ALPINE SCHOOL DISTRICT
School TOTAL BATTERY
1991 1992 1993 CHANGE 1993 EXPECTED RANGE
FIFTH GRADE
Alpine 55 52 59 +7 48-73
Aspen 43 61 52 -9 43-67
Barratt* 73 73 80 +7 48-73
Bonneville 66 60 59 -1 46-71
Cascade 68 62 74 +12 50-74
Cedar Valley 79 39 41 +2 41-66
Central* 55 48 60 +12 35-58
Cherry Hill* 69 66 79 +13 40-64
Forbes 64 52 61 +9 40-63
Geneva* 54 67 56 -11 32-54
Greenwood 54 55 47 -8 32-54
Grovecrest 55 54 53 -1 45-69
Highland 63 64 67 +3 48-73
Hillcrest 61 62 64 +2 41-66
Lehi 51 44 47 +3 38-62
Lindon 59 45 60 +15 48-73
Manila 58 41 55 +14 45-70
Meadow** 46 43 41 -2 43-67
Northridge 72 62 61 -1 50-74
Orchard 69 64 68 +4 48-73
Orem 64 64 61 -3 47-72
Scera Park 74 78 61 -17 44-68
Sego Lily 64 45 47 +2 45-69
Sharon* 63 75 64 -11 38-62
Shelley 64 47 62 +15 47-72
Suncrest 59 44 61 +17 44-68
Valley View 68 60 51 -9 45-69
Vineyard 67 67 66 -1 43-67
Westmore 63 61 59 -2 37-61
Windsor 58 61 45 -16 41-66
Total fifth grade 62 59 60 +1 48-64
EIGHTH GRADE
American Fork 56 60 53 -7 43-63
Canyon View 61 59 56 -3 44-64
Lakeridge 57 62 59 -3 42-62
Lehi 44 50 48 -2 40-61
Mountain Ridge n/a n/a 63 n/a n/a
Oak Canyon n/a n/a 56 n/a n/a
Orem 54 61 57 -4 39-60
Pleasant Grove 55 48 49 +1 42-63
Total eighth grade 56 57 55 -1 47-61
ELEVENTH GRADE
American Fork 58 60 55 -5 48-66
Lehi 47 47 52 +5 46-64
Mountain View 60 62 63 +1 44-63
Orem 65 67 66 -1 48-66
Pleasant Grove 51 53 58 +5 47-65
Total eleventh grade 58 60 61 +1 51-63
*Above expected range **Below expected range