Parkway Schools Test Scores Show Parents It's Worth the Price of Real Estate

Annual statewide student testing results, known as Missouri Assessment Program or MAP, show Parkway District schools keeping apace with ever increasing federal goals for student proficiency and academic improvement in public schools.

"We're headed in the right direction," said Parkway's Coordinator of Student Assessment Julie Collins.

While results are preliminary, the data shows that taking a measure of growth over past years plus MAP test scores, Parkway schools beat the target by half a point at 76 percent of studentsproficient.

However, using only the test scores, the district misses the mark by 4.8, scoring 70.7percent instead of the 2011 goal of 75.5 percent.

"Overall, we're pleased, but not satisfied," Collins said Thursday, when the data was made public by the Department of Education Elementary and Secondary Education. "Seventy-five percent of students proficient—it's terrific, but not enough.

"We want to see the growth of every child," Collins said. 

In fact, the Parkway district is mobilizing to join a state pilot program that uses similar test data to track primarily academic growth of public school students, and in turn change the way teachers use the data to coordinate instruction for the individual student. It's slated to go into effect during the 2012-13 school year, Collins said.

"We want all our students to improve academically from year to year," said Parkway District Superintendent Dr. Keith Marty. "That's what matters most for learners and their teachers. We're pleased Missouri is moving toward a new school evaluation model that focuses on student growth."

The federal goals that tie into MAP testing of public school students began in 2002 and 100 percentproficiency is required by 2014. 

The designations are part of the Bush administration's No Child Left Behind legislation, whereby public schools must document student standing in order to avoid funding sanctions, paying for tutors, and paying for student transportation to higher-performing schools.

Communication arts and math are tested, measured and compared to Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) goals. The ratings are proficient and advanced, not pass/fail scoring.

The closer the year 2014 becomes, the higher the goals.

Statewide, 83.5 percent of public school districts did not meet their proficiency goals in 2011, according to the data.

So, what is its value?

"You start to ask, is this data really important? Collins said. While we may disagree somewhat with aspects of the program, the good side is we value the concept. It is attainable."

But Collins went on to say it likely takes more time and continued emphasis on the academic growth of each and every student.

Here's an sampling by the numbers, of how some Parkway schools scored:

Parkway District High Schools MAP Results

72.5%

68.7

73.5

For specific data about more schools, see the state MAP website. Select a district, then a school by name.

*These figures are percentages of students expected to test proficientfor that grade level.