By Eric Stevick
Herald Writer
Fourth- and 10th-graders in Snohomish County continued to improve in reading, math and writing on state exams while seventh-graders were a mixed bag, according to results released Wednesday.
Even so, the scores on the annual Washington Assessment on Student Learning exams, known as the "WASLs," show there is a long way to go for thousands of students across Washington. Less than half the state’s students at each of the three grade levels met state standards on math and writing exams.
"Student progress is continuing," said Terry Bergeson, the state superintendent of public instruction. "It was strongest at the 10th-grade level but more gradual at the fourth grade. And we’re struggling at the middle school levels, especially in reading and math."
WASL results have become big news in recent years. On the first day the results were released in 2000, the Web site for the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction was viewed more than one million times, which is nearly equivalent to one per student across the state.
The trend is likely to continue as the stakes get higher. By the year 2008, students will need to pass the exams to receive their high school diplomas.
Many schools in Snohomish and Island counties found reasons for encouragement in the results. Roughly two-thirds of elementary schools in Snohomish County exceeded the 66.1 percent state average of fourth-graders passing the reading exam. Seven of the eight elementary schools in Island County recorded scores above the state average.
The Coupeville School District posted impressive scores with its seventh- and 10th-graders far exceeding the state average. The high school scores were particularly high with 86 percent of students meeting the reading standard and 66 percent achieving the writing standard.
"In the past three years, the high school has focused on reading and writing across the curriculum," said Suzanne Bond, superintendent of the Coupeville School District.
Much more emphasis is spent on writing in gym, health and art classes. For instance, a written explanation now accompanies student artwork, she said.
At Lynnwood High School, Principal David Golden will have to scramble to find 90 new T-shirts if the school is to repeat last year’s recognition assembly for students who met the state standards on all four WASL exams. A year ago, just 22 students passed all four exams.
Golden was also encouraged because half the 10th-graders passed three of the four exams, a steep increase.
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(Snohomish County Schools only)
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There were several factors behind the improvement, including better monitoring of which students were indeed 10th-graders based on credits earned rather than years in school. The school also better organized testing periods so students would be in a familiar environment with instructors who teach the subject being tested.
Golden also believes the teaching staff has a better understanding of what’s expected under state standards while dedicating time for students to read to themselves each day also helped.
At Lynnwood’s Meadowdale Elementary, where one-third of the students qualify for a free or reduced-price lunch, a poverty indicator, students continue to perform above the state average in reading and math.
The school has seen incremental improvement in reading each year. Students are increasingly exposed to non-fiction writing in the earlier grades while second-graders keep math journals that don’t just solve equations but explain their reasoning.
While there was some success, there was plenty of room for improvement, particularly in middle school.
"If there is a message, fourth grade and 10th grade are improving the way we want and in seventh grade we have some work to do," said Allen Sharples, a curriculum director in the Lakewood School District.
Bergeson pledged additional help for middle schools.
"The middle school is obviously going to continue to be a challenge for us," she said. "Everybody talks about raging hormones, but that’s kind of like using poverty for an excuse."
You can call Herald Writer Eric Stevick at 425-339-3446
or send e-mail to stevick@heraldnet.com.
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