All Schools Meet Federal Testing Targets

Division falls short in one category

POSTED: 2:23 p.m. EDT, August 27, 2008
By: FCCPS Communications

At the individual elementary, middle and high school levels, Falls Church City Public Schools performed well on the Standards of Learning (SOLs) tests for the 2007-2008 school year.  Each school made adequate yearly progress (AYP) in all target areas as defined by the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB).  The school division as a whole, however, made AYP in 28 out of 29 objectives, with a deficiency in reading among economically disadvantaged students.

“AYP is determined primarily by achievement rates in mathematics and reading and by achievement rates in sub-populations determined by various factors such as socioeconomic status, race and disability,” FCCPS Testing Coordinator Juanita Briscoe said.  “Our school division’s testing target in reading was 77 percent.  The division’s economically disadvantaged students scored 75.7 percent.”

Economically disadvantaged students scored well in mathematics.  The testing target was 75 percent and the group exceeded the target with an 83.7 percent passing rate.  Virginia’s testing targets increase in all subject areas each year.

“We want all of our students to be proficient in all academic areas,” Superintendent Lois Berlin said.  “We are studying the individual student reports to determine where the deficiencies are and to develop a plan of action to ensure all students are succeeding.”

Under NCLB guidelines, at least 50 students must meet sub-group criteria in order to be counted.  The division’s economically disadvantaged student population is so small, only the school division as a whole, rather than individual schools, had enough students to be counted as a sub-group.

The Falls Church City School Board’s strategic plan includes a heavy emphasis on data-driven decision-making.  Staff members receive training to disaggregate student data to identify academic areas that may need additional attention and resources to ensure student success.