Park City students posted stellar scores on the 2001 state-mandated core curriculum tests.
Nearly 98 percent of fifth-graders are reading on grade level. More than 99 percent of second-graders are meeting state standards in math.
 Deseret News graphic Park City test resultsRequires Adobe Acrobat. | |
Fewer than 3 percent — and in most cases, none — of the test-takers on any one of the 23 exams are considered unprepared for the next grade.
And district averages far surpass the state's in terms of mastering the material, in several cases by more than 30 percentage points. In seventh-grade math, a weak spot in several Wasatch Front school districts, Park City students scored 51 percentage points higher than state averages.
"They're strong," district curriculum director Merry Haugen said of the scores. "I think they reflect the curriculum alignment that we've been working on over the past three to four years."
The core curriculum test was taken by all Utah first- through seventh-graders for the first time last spring under a new state law aimed at increasing schools' accountability for student achievement. Park City has given the tests for years anyway.
Scores are intended to help teachers examine student strengths, pinpoint weaknesses and address them in lessons. They are reported in levels of how well students understand what they're supposed to learn in class all year.
Students scoring at mastery and near-mastery levels are ready for the next grade level. Students categorized as having partial mastery of the curriculum need tutoring before they can successfully press forward in school. Students who score at minimal-mastery levels are not ready to move on.
High numbers of Park City students are mastering the curriculum, perhaps with some help from district initiatives.
Reading specialists are stationed in every elementary school, where they work with students and teachers. The district a few years back adopted an elementary math program, which more teachers are implementing, Haugen said.
Sixth-grade math scores, however, are below state averages. But that's likely due to human error. Some students took the test when they should have had accommodations for limited English proficiency or special education, and their scores were tallied with peers in the regular school program, Haugen said.
Students are struggling, though, on the middle- and high-school geometry test. The score is higher than it has been, "but it is still below the state average by 1 percent," Haugen said.
"I'm still hopeful we can make some upward progress on that. It's not at the level I would like to see it."
E-MAIL: jtcook@desnews.com