Again this year, area schools surpassed the state averages on the ISTEP+.

C a r r o l l Consolidated S c h o o l Corporation p e r f o r m e d well above the state averages for the most part, with 92 percent of fifth graders meeting the state standard in math.

Delphi Community High School scored above the state averages except in ninth grade language arts, but excelled in tenth grade language arts. The middle school scored even with or slightly below the state averages, but excelled in eighth grade language arts. Hillcrest struggled in third grade math, but scored well above the average in fourth grade language arts. Camden scored well above the averages in all categories and did especially well in fifth grade math. R o s s v i l l scored well above the state in every category; an impressive 98 percent of sixth graders met the state standard in math.

Principal Debby Williams said Camden, like Hillcrest, has been focusing on writing and reading and believes the Reading Counts program has helped their scores.

While Camden scored well above the state averages in all areas, some of the scores have declined from last years’. Camden’s special needs students, who were taking the test at Hillcrest last year, were tested with Camden this year; and the scores are reflective of that change. One child makes a two percent difference in the percentage of students who pass in each grade level. So it’s one or two kids who can make a difference, she said.

“We’re seeing a different type of student these days,” said Williams. “In some families, the parents ask kids to get out their homework so they can help them. In some homes, both parents are working and some are single-parent homes. How can they find the time? And how do teachers make up for that? There are so many state standards that it is critical to have time at home to drill.”

Carroll Elementary School Principal Carolyn O’Connell was unavailable for comment, as she was out of the office for the week.

Principal Keith Brakel said he has been working closely with the middle school to identify students who are coming into the ninth grade, and who have had problems in the past. He is seeing that they receive extra tutoring. Also, all ninth and tenth graders are given experience with the different types of questions they will encounter on the tests.

Delphi Community High School has a new dimension to deal with this year. The Carroll Jr./Sr. High School students who are Emotionally Disabled were tested with Delphi high school this year. So in ninth grade math, 74 percent of students made the state standard, but with the ED population’s scores culled, the amount of students who passed in the ‘general population’ rose to 87 percent; in tenth grade math, 67 percent passed and without the ED scores, the percent of passing students is 76. The same is true of ninth grade language arts with 64 percent and 78 percent; and tenth grade language arts, 73 percent and 80 percent.

“We’re pleased when we look at the ‘general population’ scores,” said Brakel. “And we’ll continue to find ways to help the Emotionally Disabled students.”

Principal Joanne Allard said 126 sixth graders took the ISTEP+, so one student roughly equals one percentage point.

She said the middle school uses ‘power standards,’ the standards which drive the test. For example, ISTEP+ places heavy emphasis on algebra at the eighth grade level: solving simple equations and using formulas. So she sees that in all the general math class, students are exposed to these concepts early on.

“We’re trying to stay ahead of the game,” she said. “We’ve done this with all grades and the eighth grade is doing better, so it’s cumulative. By eighth grade they’ve had good exposure and can master the standards.”

“Our teachers are working very hard and the students are showing the results of working hard,” she said.

“All in all,” said Williams, “we’re doing a good job,” She said to put it into perspective: it’s just one test given in a two-week time period, and she hopes schools aren’t judged on just one test.

Carroll Jr.-Sr. High School Principal Charles Huckstep said the school is in its third year of a reading program. Everyone reads for 20 minutes every morning. He said he’s confident that it will have a positive effect on ISTEP+ scores.

He said that, like other schools, Carroll has implemented math and language arts labs, where students are tutored. He said also that starting this year, the school will work on writing across the curriculum.