Carroll uses ISTEP results as tool
By Jennifer Archibald Staff writer

In analyzing and reporting ISTEP+ results, many comparisons can be made: In any given school, how this year's grade level performance compared to the same grade level last year How one school did compared to other schools in the area How a school's grade level results compare to state averages Comparison of school subgroups, such as male-female or paid lunch-free/reduced lunch.

In the Carroll School Corporation, administrators say they look at all scores and comparisons, but what they are most concerned with is seeing how any grade level (and individual students) performed, compared to how those same students performed last year and over time. The goal, Carroll administrators say, is for the same students to show a steady improvement in performance levels.

In grade level reporting, the performance is measured by the percent of students who pass the test in math and in English/language arts. The test is given in grades 3-10.

Statewide, 71 percent of the students passed the language arts test this year and 74 percent passed the math test.

Elementary principal Carolyn O'Connell and junior-senior high school assistant principal Fred Schnarr both said that almost across the board, Carroll students meet or exceed state averages in both math and language arts.

At Carroll Elementary, O'Connell said one of the most significant improvements within a grade level was in the fourth grade math results. Last year, as third graders, 68 percent of the class passed the math exam. This year, 74 percent passed. Another big jump was in fifth grade. Last year, 76 percent of fifth graders passed the math, and this year, 87 percent passed.

There isn't much change in sixth grade math performance from last year to this year, but there is noticeable improvement from 2004 (74 percent passed) to this year (89 percent passed).

English pass rates at CES remained fairly steady except in sixth grade, where it dropped from 84 percent last year to 73 percent this year.

At the junior-senior high school, the percent that passed in math is higher than the percent that passed in English at all grade levels.

Schnarr pointed out that last year, 91 percent of seventh graders passed the math test, and the class had the exact same percentage this year. Results in language arts for the same class were 75 percent passed last year and 78 percent this year.

The Class of 2008 and the Class of 2009 showed the most significant improvement over time.

In language arts, the Class of 2008 jumped from a 57 percent pass rate in 2001 to 68% in 2005 (the last time they took the test). In math, the same class went from 69 percent in 2001 to 75 percent in 2005.

For the Class of 2009, the percent that passed language arts in 2002 was 66, compared to 72 percent in 2006. Math comparisons for the same years went from 72 percent to 80 percent.

Both schools analyze the ISTEP results to see how to best help students improve.

To view complete ISTEP+ results, visit www.doe.state.in.us/istep.