NU scores high in reading, math

By GUY PRIEL

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Third- and fifth-grade students in District 88 have improved their scores in reading and math, according to results of Minnesota Comprehensive Tests released Wednesday by the Department of Children, Families and Learning.

"We have increased our performance in reading and math during the past three years," Curriculum Coordinator Bill Sprung said. "It is good to see that. Overall, I am pleased with the scores."

There are four levels of achievement for the test results,. Forty-one percent of students in District 88 tested in reading scoring at level 3, which is above grade level. The results were 42 percent for math at level 3, with 59 percent in writing at level 2, which is average.

The average score for reading in District 88 was 1551, with the average score in math at 1524. About 200 fifth-grade students were tested. The state average was 1493 for reading and 1470 for math.

The scores for third grade were 1488 for reading, which is level 2; and 1466 for math, which is level 2. About 180 third-graders were test. The state average was 1461 for reading and 1478 for math.

In writing, fifth-grade students were tested in four categories. The scores were, descriptive writing, 1425; narrative writing, 1390; problem solution, 1460; and clarification writing, 1440.

"We will get with the fifth-grade teachers to see what we can do to improve our writing scores," Sprung said. "We are right around the state average, but we would have liked to see them higher."

State averages for the writing portion were: descriptive, 1498; narrative, 1413; problem solution, 1478; and clarification, 1408.

"We are pleased with where we landed on the scale," Sprung said. "This is the third year of the test, and we have seen some improvement in scores between our students when they were tested in third grade and again in the fifth grade."

The district will be do some research and some long-range planning to determine what happened and look for ways to improve the scores for next year.

"The teachers did mention that the tests seemed harder this year than in the past," Sprung said. "We have developed a certain feel for how the students are tested. The first year we were not sure how the test would look."

Another district that fared well on the tests, which were given in March, was Madelia, whose students scored high, with all scores in level 3. The results for third grade were 1525 for reading and 1645 for math.

For writing, the scores in Madelia were: descriptive, 1656; narrative, 1541; problem solution, 1568; and clarification, 1545.

"A outstanding staff and hard work by the students has been the key," Elementary Principal Mary Hanson said. "We implemented a computer lab two years ago, where each students spends half an hour per day learning math and reading that is geared to their level."

Part of the success has been the individualized learning each student receives in the lab. The teachers note when the students are having trouble and use the data to teach what each student needs.

"We also have an accelerated reader program and a school-wide Title I program that has helped," Hanson said. "This has all been developed through a comprehensive school reform grant. It is our hope that the scores will carry through as the students get older."

Scores for area districts are:

* Comfrey, third grade reading, 1433; third grade math, 1521; fifth grade reading, 1524; fifth grade math, 1499; descriptive, 1585; narrative, 1680; problem solution, 1620; and clarification, 1535.

* Sleepy Eye, third grade reading, 1442; third grade math, 1445; fifth grade reading, 1488; fifth grade math, 1448; descriptive, 1475; narrative, 1404; problem solution, 1536; and clarification, 1382.

* Springfield, third grade reading, 1457; third grade math, 1437; fifth grade reading, 1542; fifth grade math, 1504; descriptive, 1550; narrative, 1257; problem solution, 1449; and clarification, 1347.

* GFW, third grade reading, 1469; third grade math, 1531; fifth grade reading, 1482; fifth grade math, 1442; descriptive, 1427; narrative, 1383; problem solution, 1272; and clarification, 1349.

* Nicollet, third grade reading, 1443; third grade math, 1510; fifth grade reading, 1467; fifth grade math, 1439; descriptive, 1505; narrative, 1567; problem solution, 1462; and clarification, 1350.

* Red Rock Central, third grade reading, 1576; third grade math, 1582; fifth grade reading, 1478; fifth grade math, 1489; descriptive, 1413; narrative, 1398; problem solution, 1463; and clarification, 1479.

* Redwood Falls, third grade reading, 1482; third grade math, 1567; fifth grade reading, 1492; fifth grade math, 1507; descriptive, 1563; narrative, 1430; problem solution, 1430; and clarification, 1489.

* Sibley East, third grade reading, 1403; third grade math, 1409; fifth grade reading, 1447; fifth grade math, 1369; descriptive, 1461; narrative, 1341; problem solution, 1354; and clarification, 1388.

* Buffalo Lake-Hector, third grade reading, 1494; third grade math, 1498; fifth grade reading, 1508; fifth grade math, 1540; descriptive, 1450; narrative, 1453; problem solution, 1464; and clarification, 1239.

* Cedar Mountain, third grade reading, 1576; third grade math 1626; fifth grade reading, 1506; fifth grade math, 1498; descriptive, 1483; narrative, 1301; problem solution, 1515; and clarification, 1376.

* McLeod West, third grade reading, 1421; third grade math, 1545; fifth grade reading, 1479; fifth grade math, 1457; descriptive, 1479; narrative, 1466; problem solution, 1380; and clarification, 1401.

* St. James, third grade reading, 1400; third grade math, 1457; fifth grade reading, 1455; fifth grade math, 1446; descriptive, 1451; narrative, 1491; problem solution, 1531; and clarification, 1284.

* Wabasso, third grade reading, 1402; third grade math, 1562; fifth grade reading, 1460; fifth grade math, 1488; descriptive, 1613; narrative, 1248; problem solution, 1480; and clarification, 1530.