Students score high in English

"All of our schools are focusing more on the state's standards. ... Basically it's a matter of emphasis and focus because even before we started focusing on this we were teaching the state's standards. Now that we know which ones are on the test we know what the students need to know," said Jeanie Kwong, director of assessment for the San Mateo Union High School District.

Standardized tests are used to determine a student's understanding for each grade level or course in accordance with the California Academic Content Standards. Test scores are used to determine if the student's performance is advanced, proficient, basic, below basic or far below basic. California's target is for all students to score at the proficient or advanced levels.

Statewide, freshmen raised their English scores from 36 percent in 2004 to 43 percent and their geometry scores from 43 percent to 79 percent. Sophomores barely changed their English scores, raising it 1 percent to 36 percent. However, geometry scores jumped from 15 percent to 47 percent. Juniors showed improvement with English scores going from 32 percent to 46 percent and geometry scores more than tripling from 5 percent to 17 percent.

In San Mateo County, freshman at Mills High School saw their English scores go down a percentage to 73 percent this year but are still the top score in the county. Menlo-Atherton High School sophomore's had the highest jump in their English scores, going from 38 percent to 52 percent.

While improving their English score from last year of 15 percent, Sequoia High School's juniors scored the worst out of any group with 31 percent.

Menlo-Atherton High School freshmen had the highest score in geometry at 87 percent, up from last years score of 69 percent. However, Woodside High School freshmen showed the biggest jump in improvement going from 50 percent last year to 82 percent this year.

Across the board, schools and districts struggle to maintain student interest since a poor score means little to most students since it does not count for individual grades or accomplishments.

Many schools in Kwong's district worked on student motivation during the last testing period. Students don't always realize the importance of test scores, Kwong said.

"Everyone gets a score but it doesn't affect them in any way. There are no individual repercussions," Kwong said.

Different schools were offering motivation like mid-morning snacks or pizza parties. Many schools just help the kids understand what the numbers do mean.

"What the whole thing boils down to is these performance tests reflects on their schools," Kwong said.

Heather Murtagh can be reached by e-mail: heather@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 105. What do you think of this story? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com.