WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. June 11, 2007: White Plains middle schoolers have turned their math skill trend around, according to an ebullient Superintendent of Schools, Timothy Connors Monday evening when he announced that the 2007 New York State Math Exams taken in March by White Plains students were a great success with 70% passing rates in grades 7 and 8 Math.

The progress is significant, however the fall off in same class performance from 4th grade to 8th grade is still significant -- remains as high as 9% based on State Education Department statistics.

The Results:

Percent Passing the New York State Math Exams

(Chart from White Plains City School District)

GRADE             2006                       2007           Increase

3                              77%                        83%             6%

4                              75%                        75%              0%

5                              61%                        73%            12%

6                              53%                        66%            13%

7                              59%                        70%            11%

8                              58%                        71%            13%

How have the classes done since 4^th grade?

 Though the following will be criticized on the grounds that  each class every year  “is not the same class,” and “the tests were different,” it is instructive, using State Education Department Report Cards for White Plains, to look at how the same class has done on the math test each year.

We should remember the state math test is different every year for every grade, and we do not have 100% turnover of every class by 8^th grade. When you look at the achievement this year the math problem  still emerges dramatically  in 5^th and 6^th grade, and the students have to play catch up ball for two years. White Plains made great strides in getting middle schoolers to pass at a significantly higher rate this year and this is to be commended. But let’s take a closer look:

WPCNR used the State Report Card of 2004-2005 to see what this year’s classes actually have done year to year on the state math test.

This year’s eighth graders were in 4^th grade in 2003. At that time, 80% of that 4^th class passed the state math test. Though it is not entirely the same class, the pattern of falling math scores from 3^rd to 8^th grade highlighted my State Education Department Chancellor Richard Mills last fall  turned around at least in White Plains this year with 71% of those fourth graders passing the math this year now that they are in eighth grade. Not as much of a falloff as expected, thanks to their academic acumen this year. They are now only 9% worse than they were in 4^th grade.

This year’s seventh graders were in 4^th grade in 2004 and at that time 77% passed the State Mathematics test at the 4^th grade level. Testing their math scores three years later, 70% passed. Not bad! You could, with a stretch say they are holding their own.

Something happens in 5^th and 6^th grade.

The sixth graders were in 4^th grade two years ago in 2005. At that time 82% of them passed the math achievement. In 2007, two years later, 66% of them have passed, so though the sixth graders improved year to year, the same class dropped 16% in scores from 4^th grade to sixth grade. You have to ask yourself what is going on there?

Now how about the fifth graders of 2007, one year out of 4^th grade math? That class was the 4^th grade in 2005-2006. In fourth grade, 75% of them passed, according to the State Education Department figures. In March 2007, 61% of them passed the Math Achievement, a drop of 14% in one year. What happened?

Is the math instruction given grades 1 through 4 not enough for demands of 5^th and 6^th grade?  Though the remedial work the district has done has made a real breakthrough in grades 6, 7 and 8 in one year the drop off from 4^th grade and why there is such a pattern has to be of concern and continues to be.

Percentage of Class Passing Mathematics Exam In 4^th Grade vs. 2007 Results

(Chart Prepared by WPCNR Research based on 2006 SED Report Card)

2007 Class     4^th Grade Year      4^th Grade Pass %      2007 Pass Pct.       Difference

Grade 8           2003                            80%                          71%                        -9%

Grade 7           2004                            77%                          70%                        -7%

Grade 6          2005                             82%                          66%                        -16%

Grade 5          2006                             75%                          61%                        -14%