All Schools Meet Federal Testing Targets

Division falls short in two sub-groups

POSTED: 3:26 p.m. EDT, August 13, 2009
By: FCCPS Communications

At the individual elementary, middle and high school levels, Falls Church City Public Schools performed well on the Standards of Learning (SOLs) tests for the 2008-2009 school year.  Each school made adequate yearly progress (AYP) in all target areas as defined by the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB).  The school division as a whole, however, made AYP in 25 out of 29 objectives, with a deficiency in reading and mathematics among economically disadvantaged students and Hispanic students.

AYP is determined primarily by achievement rates in mathematics and reading and by achievement rates among sub-populations determined by various factors such as socioeconomic status, race and disability.  The school division’s testing target in reading for the 2008-2009 school year was 81 percent.  The testing target in mathematics was 79 percent.

The passing rate in reading for the school division’s economically disadvantaged students was 69.1 percent, and the passing rate in reading for the school division’s Hispanic students was 71.9 percent. The passing rate in mathematics for the school division’s economically disadvantaged students was 71.1 percent and the passing rate in mathematics for the school division’s Hispanic students was 71.3 percent.

“We want all of our students to be proficient in all academic areas, and the testing results indicate a need for additional support,” Superintendent Lois Berlin said.  “We have utilized federal stimulus funds to hire two specialists to work with our teachers and students with a goal of raising student mathematics and reading achievement rates.  The school division has also teamed up with the Alliance for Youth to start a mentoring program to support both academic and social needs of students.”

Under NCLB guidelines, at least 50 students must meet sub-group criteria in order to be counted.  In most sub-group categories, only the school division as a whole, rather than individual schools, has enough students who meet specific demographic criteria to be counted as a sub-group.