The science assessment portion of the New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP) was administered this spring and results released last week. The tests were given to Vermont students in grades 4, 8 and 11.
FOUR LEVELS
Students' NECAP scores are reported at four levels of academic achievement: Level Four: proficient with distinction; Level Three: proficient; Level Two: partially proficient and Level One: substantially below proficient.
On a statewide level 48 percent of Vermont fourth-graders tested proficient or higher in science. In grade eight, 26 percent were proficient or higher. In grade 11, 25 percent were proficient or higher.
In Fayston, 6 percent of the 16 students tested were at Level Four and 88 percent were at Level Three. Six percent were at Level Two and there were no students at Level One. Ninety-four percent of the school's fourth-graders were proficient or proficient with distinction.
PROFICIENT
In Moretown, 4 percent of the 25 students tested were at Level Four and 80 percent were at Level Three. Eight percent of students tested at Level Two and 8 percent at Level One. Eighty-four percent of the school's fourth-graders were proficient or proficient with distinction.
At the Warren Elementary School 11 students were tested and 64 percent of those students tested at Level Three. Thirty-six percent of the school's students tested at Level Two, with no students tested at Level Four or Level One.
In Waitsfield, 19 students at the elementary school were tested. Five percent of those students tested at Level Four, 53 percent tested at Level Three, 26 percent tested at Level Two and 16 percent tested at Level One. A total of 58 percent of the school's students tested at proficient or proficient with distinction.
WITH DISTINCTION
At the Thatcher Brook Primary School, serving Waterbury and Duxbury, 74 students were tested. One percent tested at Level Four, 54 percent tested at Level Three, 32 percent tested at Level Two and 12 percent tested at Level One. A total of 55 percent of the school's students tested proficient or proficient with distinction.
At Crossett Brook Middle School, which serves Waterbury and Duxbury, 79 eighth-graders were tested. Of those students, 1 percent tested at Level Four, 42 percent tested at Level Three, 41 percent tested at Level Two and 16 percent tested at Level One. A total of 43 percent tested at proficient or proficient with distinction while 57 percent of those tested were partially proficient or substantially below proficient.
LEVEL THREE
At Harwood Union Middle School, serving Valley students, 150 students were tested. Six percent tested at Level Four, 31 percent tested at Level Three, 41 percent tested at Level Two and 22 percent tested at Level One. A total of 37 percent tested as proficient or proficient with distinction while 63 percent tested as partially proficient or substantially below proficient.
The NECAP reading, writing, mathematics and science tests measure students' academic knowledge and skills relative to Grade Expectations which were developed by teams of teachers from Vermont, Rhode Island and New Hampshire. Grade Expectations represent the knowledge and skills that students should have achieved by the end of the previous school year (reading and math) or at the end of a specific grade span (writing and science).
Reading and math are assessed in grades 3 through 8 and 11, writing is assessed in grades 5, 8 and 11, and science is assessed in grades 4, 8 and 11. The reading, math and writing tests are administered each year in October. The science tests are administered in May.
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