News

SBPS SEES STUDENT IMPROVEMENT IN WRITING ASSESSMENT RESULTS

August 23, 2007

State writing assessment results released today (August 23) by the Nebraska Department of Education showed an overall improvement at Scottsbluff Public Schools for the 2006-2007 school year.

Scottsbluff students in the 4th, 8th, and 11th grades participated in the statewide writing assessments in February. Student papers are sent to a state committee which scores the papers according to Nebraska State Standards. The information released is the number of students in each building who met or exceeded the state standard of writing.

At the elementary level, most buildings saw an increase in student proficiency compared to previous year’s results. The biggest increase in the number of students proficient was at Longfellow Elementary. In 2005-06, 69% of 4th grade students were proficient in writing. During the 2006-07 assessment, 91% of 4th graders were proficient. Westmoor saw an increase from 69% to 80% proficient. Roosevelt had 81% of the 4th graders proficient compared to 77% last year, and Lincoln Heights saw a slight decrease from 85% to 78% of students who met or exceeded state standards.

“I’m extremely proud of the work SBPS teachers have done to prepare students for the Statewide Writing Assessment,” commented Sandy Porter, Director of Curriculum and Technology. “I’m also very proud of students’ efforts. Students took the assessment seriously and performed to the best of their ability. Our scores reflect those efforts; we expect to see continued improvement.”

Bluffs Middle School also saw an increase in the number of 8th graders who met or exceeded state standards in writing. During 2005-06, 70% of 8th graders were proficient, compared to 87% during the 2006-07 school year.

     Scottsbluff High School already started with a high level of proficiency at the 11th grade. During the 2005-06 school year, 200 our of the 214 students were assessed, and 93% of juniors were proficient. During the 2006-07 school year, 172 of the 186 students were assessed, and 92%, met or exceeded the state standard.
    All of the assessment results for any district in Nebraska can be found on the State Department of Education’s website (www.nde.state.ne.us).

    To view Scottsbluff Public Schools results, click here.