Medical Lake SBA test scores above state average

Al Stover, Staff Reporter | Last updated Aug 27, 2015 9:28am0

Medical Lake School District is ahead of the curve, at least in terms of testing.

The Washington state Office of Superintendent Instruction released the preliminary results from the spring 2015 Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA) tests in English, Language Arts and Mathematics.

Medical Lake was one of many districts across the state that took part in Smarter Balanced Assessment for the first time this year.

The SBA is a computer exam that charts a student’s success or failures as they move through questions. It also aligns with Common Core State Standards.

In preliminary test scores, Medical Lake scored higher than the state average in third, fourth, fifth, eighth and 11th grades. The district was below the state average in both sixth-grade ELA and math test scores, and seventh-grade math scores.

“We are still looking at preliminary data,” Kim Headrick, director of teaching and learning said. “There’s a reconciliation window that is open from Aug. 28 until Sept. 14. That’s also when the state will update school report cards.”

In a news release, OSPI Superintendent Randy Dorn was pleased with the SBA results.

“Statewide results beat our predictions,” Dorn said in the release. “That says to me that students are capable of learning our new standards, which are designed to make sure students are ready for career and college.”

OSPI also released the Measurements of Student Progress science exam scores for fifth and eighth-grades. Medical Lake students scored higher than the district average in both fifth-grade (75 compared to 63.3 percent) and eighth-grade (70 percent compared to 60.6 percent).

Headrick said the district was pleased how its students performed compared to the state average. Last year the district implemented various programs to help students become proficient in rigor and relevance.

“Our teachers and staff have worked extra hard, not that anyone else’s haven’t,” Headrick said. “I attribute the scores to the dedication of staff and students, as well as the hard work in our educational community.”

Headrick said the district is still waiting on the end-of-course biology test results. Staff will use the data it received to develop building plans for the school year. The district will also be looking at the interim comprehensive smarter balanced testing to see where students are and what areas staff should focus on.

“One of the things we’re implementing is the one-hour late start release time on Fridays, which will also give staff a chance to analyze data and building needs,” Headrick said.

Al Stover can be reached at al@cheneyfreepress.com.

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Preliminary SBA Comparissons

Medical Lake WA State Average THIRD GRADE

ELA 75 percent 52 percent

Math 75.7 percent 56.6 percent

FOURTH GRADE

ELA 65.2 percent 54.5 percent

Math 64.5 percent 54 percent

FIFTH GRADE

ELA 66.6 percent 57.5 percent

Math 50 percent 48 percent