Delphi ISTEP results indicate growth, challenges
By Kevin Schnepp Staff writer

Trying to raise the bar ISTEP test results can be compiled and interpreted in many ways, each providing a different glimpse into students' and schools' educational progress. The two graphs shown above are based on fall 2007 ISTEP test results for third through 10th graders at Delphi Community schools. As evidenced in the math graph (left), local score averages and state comparisons by grade level were strong through sixth grade but faltered in higher grades. The English/language arts graph (right) revealed most grades raised the bar compared to state averages. Educators can use such information to determine trends or bring positive and negative issues to light. Figures represented in the graphs were retrieved from the Indiana Department of Education Web site. Learn more about how DCSC students fared online at in.gov/doe/istep.

Indiana's public school administrators and teachers attain valuable information through Indiana Statewide Testing for Educational Progress (ISTEP) exams. Educators at state and local levels use information from the annual test to determine how students in grades three through 10 perform as individuals and how each grade level's teaching and resources affect learning.

Delphi Community School Corporation recently completed the fall 2007 round of ISTEP testing.

Overall average passing percentages by school increased. Elementary students' combined passing average was 64.8 percent, 3.3 percent better than last year. Middle school students managed a 75.7 percent pass rate, up 2.9 percent. High school students' average pass rate was 4.7 percent lower than statewide averages but represented a .9 percent increase to 68.6 percent for the school.

General improvement was evident in math and English/language arts but results were mixed in math compared to last year's averages.

ENGLISH/LANGUAGE ARTS

Elementary school

Third graders held steady compared to last year with a 79 percent average. The score was three points higher than the state mark.

Fourth grade was the sole class in the district to fall short of the state average this year, with a median score seven percent below the statewide mark and three percent lower than last year's fourth grade class. The decrease represented an 11 percent drop compared to how the same students fared on the exam as third graders.

Delphi Community Elementary School Principal Bill Shidler told the Comet the lower average was due in part to elementary school re-alignment. He said students experienced "change pains" when classes from two elementary schools were combined this year.

"Since the two elementary schools were realigned to begin this school year, the data is a starting point for our new school," Shidler said. "We feel very good about our numbers but look forward to developing strategies to assist those students who didn't pass."

Fifth grade averaged a 78 percent score, two percent better than the state average but one percent off last year's fifth grade mark.

Middle school

Sixth grade's 78 percent average was five percent better than both the state average and last year's sixth grade score.

Seventh graders performed similarly with their 73 percent average, two points better than the state median and a four point improvement over last year.

Eighth graders bested the state average with their 72 percent mean score, but that was six percent off the grade's average one year prior.

High school

Ninth grade held steady with last year's freshmen with a 69 percent average, two points above the statewide mark.

Sophomores also averaged 69 percent, one point better than the state's and last year's class averages.

MATH

Elementary school

Third grade's average math score was 68 percent, down two percent compared to last year and three percent lower than the current state average. Fourth and fifth graders met state averages with 76 and 78 percent respectively. Both reflected improved averages compared to last year.

Middle school

An 88 percent average score turned in by sixth graders was seven percent above the state's mark, eight percent better than last year's sixth graders, and an improvement for that grade from one year prior.

Seventh grade students showed improvement with an eight point increase to 71 percent, but the class average was still nine percent lower than the state mean.

Eighth graders held steady at 72 percent while the state average increased three percent to 75.

High school

Freshman math scores improved five percent locally to 68 percent but fell shy of the state average by two percent.

Sophomores scored three percent worse than last year's 10th grade class, but one percent better than the average Hoosier sophomore.

SCIENCE

Science results were available for fifth and seventh grades. Fifth graders held steady with a 69 percent average pass rate, three points higher than the state average. Seventh graders fared two percent better than last year with a 61 percent average, one point above the state median.