By Matt Wiley
Now that the 2013-14 school year has come to a close and New Tampa students are now on on summer break, preliminary FCAT 2.0 (Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test) Reading, Math, Science and Writing scores have been released and, once again, New Tampa’s schools have performed well.
According to the FCAT 2.0 test score reports released by the Florida Department of Education (FDoE) on June 6, the Hillsborough County School District (HCSD) performed well on the tests in reading (grades 3-10), math (grades 3-8), science (grades 5 & 8) and writing (grades 4, 8 & 10), which provides students with either a narrative, persuasive or expository writing prompt.
Overall, HCSD students showed improvement in 14 of 16 areas (reading, math & science subject areas at each grade level), when compared with average scores from across the state.
“This is tremendous news on the last day of school,” said HCSD superintendent MaryEllen Elia. “Congratulations to our students and teachers, and everyone who works so hard to increase student achievement. It’s gratifying to see improvement in all areas – reading, writing, math and science.”
The FCAT 2.0 test was put into practice in 2011 and measures student achievement according to “Next Generation Sunshine State Standards,” which are more rigorous than those tested on the original FCAT test.
Next school year, a new assessment test based on the new, more rigorous “Florida Standards” will replace the FCAT 2.0 for the first time. The Florida Standards for math and English language arts stress a broader approach for student learning, including an increased emphasis on analytical thinking, the FDoE reports.
New Tampa students, for the most part, tested higher than the state averages. In math, reading and science, scores are measured on a five-level scale with level three demonstrating proficiency.
In reading, Lawton Chiles and Tampa Palms Elementary schools performed highest in all grades, while Tampa Palms and Pride Elementary schools led the way in math. Chiles and Pride also scored the highest in science. Benito Middle outperformed both Bartels and Liberty in math, reading and science. Although Freedom and Wharton High ninth graders performed both the state and district in reading, tenth graders at both schools scored the same as the state and district.
For the FCAT scores for each individual school in New Tampa and the State and District averages on each tested subject, please consult the chart at the top of this page.
New Tampa Writes Well
According to a report released by FDoE on May 23, New Tampa’s 4th, 8th and 10th graders all averaged at or above both the state and HCSD averages. And, overall, the students across the state performed better, as well.
“These impressive gains are the result of district leaders providing teachers with the tools and training they need to succeed,” said Florida Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart in a press release. “I am confident that with new standards and assessments next year replacing the FCAT, our students will continue to succeed.”
This year, New Tampa’s students scored highly when responding to prompts that required them to answer questions with either a narrative, persuasive or expository essay. The students’ work is then scored on a 1.0-6.0 scale, with a 3.5 considered to be “proficient.”
HCSD 4th and 8th graders averaged a 3.6, compared with the State average of 3.3 for 4th grade and 3.4 for 8th grade, while the District’s 10th graders and the State both averaged 3.5.
The New Tampa area’s fourth graders led the charge, averaging a 3.86, while the District averaged a 3.6 and the State received a mean score of 3.3.
Lawton B. Chiles Elementary (located on Tampa Palms Blvd.) again scored the highest of New Tampa’s schools, averaging a 4.3. Among the school’s 128 students who took the test, 95-percent scored a 3.5 or higher.
“We’re very proud of our student’s scores,” says Chiles principal Terri Evans. “It’s all due to the hard work of our entire staff. It’s really attributable to an amazing faculty, supportive parents and our students, who really work hard.”
Evans says that the Chiles faculty is excited to move into next year and for the possibilities that will come with a new standardized testing format, but a little concerned about not knowing what exactly to expect.
“Next year will be a big adventure,” Evans says.
At the eighth grade level, Bartels, Liberty and Benito middle schools each also surpassed both the State (3.4) and District (3.6), averaging 3.8, 3.8 and 3.7, respectively. At Bartels, 75 percent of the 335 students who took the test scored above a 3.5.
Tenth graders at Freedom and Wharton both averaged a 3.5. Of the 497 who took the test at Freedom, 66 percent scored above a 3.5, while 67 percent of Wharton’s 498 test-takers scored above the same level.
Congrats again, New Tampa!
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