District-wide, the percent of students who scored proficient or better on the Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) tests mostly increased from 2013-14. The middle school and high school are responsible for most of those increases while the elementary school is responsible for most of the district's decreases.
The district's largest percent increase from last year to this year in students scoring proficient or advanced was eighth grade science in the middle school. In 2014, 13 percent of eighth grade students scored below basic in the subject, compared to 18.5 percent the year before.
The percentage of students scoring basic also decreased from 56.9 percent in 2013 to 37 percent in 2014. And the percent of students scoring proficient jumped from 24.6 percent in 2013 to 42.6 percent in 2014. The percent of eight graders scoring advanced in science went from nonreportable percentage in 2013 to 7.4 percent in 2014. The percent of students scoring at least proficient for eighth grade science jumped 25.4 percent from 2013-14 while the percent scoring basic or below basic dropped 12.4 percent.
The district's largest percent decrease from 2013-14 in the students scoring proficient or advanced was fourth grade math in the elementary school. In 2014, 28.8 percent of fourth graders scored proficient in math compared to 49 percent the year before. The percent of fourth grade students scoring advanced in math also declined from 10.2 in 2013 to 5.1 in 2014. The percent of fourth graders scoring basic increased from 40.8 in 2013 to 28.8 in 2014. And in 2013, the percent of fourth graders scoring below basic in math was a no reportable percentage, however, in 2014, that percentage jumped to 5.1.
Those math scores, however, remained about the same from the district's 2013's third grade class to its 2014's fourth grade class - the same group of students. Thirty-four percent of third grade students scored proficient or better in math in 2013 compared to 33.9 percent of fourth grade students in 2014.
Superintendent David Tramel said the district is for the most part happy with its MAP test results.
"In general, we were pleased (with the scores) but every time we look at MAP scores, regardless of the increase, we always strive for improvement," Tramel said.
MAP includes grade level assessments and end of course assessments. Data drives the district's professional development, Tramel said. He described data as crucial for the district.