Lake ISTEP scores a series of ups, downs

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BY CARMEN McCOLLUM
cmccollum@nwitimes.com
219.662.5337 | Friday, December 05, 2008 | (16 comment(s))

Despite a small decline in ISTEP-Plus scores across the state, generally scores in Lake and Porter counties were a mixed bag with some drops but still plenty of bright spots throughout the region.

Database: Search our 2008 ISTEP results.

Schools that traditionally have done well on Indiana Statewide Testing for Educational Progress-Plus continued to do so, even though some of them dropped a few percentage points. There were similar results for students in parochial schools in Lake and Porter counties, who generally showed increases, with some declines at certain grade levels.

Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Suellen Reed said at a Wednesday morning news conference in Indianapolis the overall pass rates declined slightly compared to last year.

Statewide, 2008 pass rates across all grades tested were approximately 71 percent in English/language arts, 74 percent in math and 60 percent in science.

Despite gains made by many local schools, Reed said the latest ISTEP-Plus results are "disappointing" from a state perspective.

"Of course, we need to do better. There's no question about that," she said. "Until we have 100 percent passing, we're never going to be satisfied."

Some parts of the state suffered bad weather during ISTEP this year, and the economy may have had some bearing, Reed said.

Many residents in Munster, Lake Station, Gary, Portage, Hobart and other Northwestern Indiana communities suffered extensive financial damage because of flooding in mid-September, at the same time that ISTEP was administered.

Eads Elementary School in Munster was closed a week for flooding. The high school was closed four days and used as a shelter to house displaced residents.

"We don't want to offer excuses, but we did have some really bad weather during ISTEP this year," Reed acknowledged. "We have some schools where lots of kids moved out. We also have some schools where the poverty rates have gone up for free and reduced lunch significantly."

Reed said the true test is what will parents, students and educators do to turn the results around.

Maureen Stafford, director of Instruction and Assessment for Munster schools, said scores went up in some areas and down a few points in other areas.

"Hopefully, we're pretty much where we were at," she said. "We haven't really had a chance to delve into the data yet. Regardless of how well we do, we always look at ways to improve, implementing new programs for those kids who are struggling."

Despite the floodwaters in Munster, 78 percent of students in the district passed both the English/language arts and the math portion of the test.

Bruce Bush, principal at Edison Junior- Senior High School in Lake Station, said his sophomores are still struggling with English and math standards.

Lake Station sophomores scored 43 percent this year in English/language arts compared with 50 percent last year. Those same students scored 47 percent this year in math compared with 51 percent last year.

Bush said the high school is looking at doing some assessments at the beginning of next school year to determine where students are in math and reading. He also said they are looking at adding a reading teacher at the seventh- and eighth-grade level to help students.

Fourth-graders at Gary's Dr. Bernard C. Watson Academy for boys jumped from 51 percent to 71 percent in English/language arts. Those same students went from 42 percent to 74 percent in math, meaning the all-boys school is making a difference in student performance.

Merrillville Superintendent Tony Lux said the district was pleased to see math scores at seven of eight schools go up.

"When you combine all of the grades, three to 10, we have the highest percentage of students passing math in the last 12 years since ISTEP has been given," he said, adding administrators placed a heavy emphasis on math over the last year.

The ISTEP exam is being moved from the fall to the spring, so students will take the test twice this year. The written problem-solving portion of the test will be given in March, followed by a multiple choice portion in April.

The state has created a new Web site www.doe.in.gov/istepparentnetwork allowing parents to track their child's ISTEP results.

Times staff writer Patrick Guinane contributed to this report.

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Illinois wrote on Dec 6, 2008 6:22 PM:

" I think they mean Illinois parents who drive their kids to Hess.

I still can't get those test scores. "

Clueless People.... wrote on Dec 5, 2008 10:47 PM:

" Public School ISTEPS and Private School ISTEPS might as well be apples and oranges. You are comparing 2 totally different sections of the teenage population. Private Schools can admit or deny anyone for any reason, public schools can't. For you private school people who think that the education is better there you are nuts. People make up schools and when the people as a whole come from educated families and families who support their kids, good things will happen. For the most part, the public schools who have a higher socioeconomic climate will always do better then the lower public schools. It is truly commone sense. I am a teacher in the public schools and public schools are being set up to fail. Republican privatization has killed education like everything else the Republicans have privatized. "

Shameka wrote on Dec 5, 2008 10:47 PM:

" Sandy,
My kids go to Joseph Hess. What are illions? Just curious. "

sandy wrote on Dec 5, 2008 8:40 PM:

" i couldn't get my son score from his test,and i'n tired of all the neg. feedback give our kids some postitve feedback for what they know and can learn not all kids are the same some have learning problems. do something about illions going to joseph hess school. "

Just Me... wrote on Dec 5, 2008 8:25 PM:

" QUIT BLAMING THE TEACHERS AND SCHOOLS! When children learn from the parents! If a child goes home and sees a parent who is lazy, disrespectful, and dishonest how do you think this child is going to school will act? I can tell you this if a child see this at home how is this child going to learn? If you don't have respect for people how is the child going to listen and learn from the teacher... If a child see a parent who is lazy... Well, the child will be lazy and slack off on learning... and so on... Come on stop the blame game if your child is not doing that good in school... Step up and become a teacher in your home and teach your child how to be a human and not an animal! You would be suprise how well your child will improve in school! "

LC Parent wrote on Dec 5, 2008 8:10 PM:

" I can't access my son's scores either. The website has continuously given me an error message since yesterday. We would have been better of getting them by mail. The state's website is worthless! I can't believe in 2 days, they couldn't get it up and running properly. "

e.c.3825 wrote on Dec 5, 2008 6:24 PM:

" yes, my kids whole high school in east chicago is not even in the data base. could it be that its because we are on academic probation and they don't want the scores let out yet. the state has already begun to step in, maybe they can take it all over so we can get rid of these cushion jobs in our schools and get back to our childrens' education! "

Waiting for scores wrote on Dec 5, 2008 4:33 PM:

" The new online access is diappointing. I tried to go online to get my child's results and I can't access it. Other parents I know have their students reults. My child was exicited about finding out and so were we! Now we have to wait while others have their scores. Hope they fix it soon. Anyone else have that problem? "

CJD wrote on Dec 5, 2008 4:20 PM:

" If money doesn't matter to education then it won't harm your kids to have less of it - they could use an abject lesson in poverty to help them understand the plight of others, and I’m SURE their test scores wouldn’t suffer. "

Community Member wrote on Dec 5, 2008 4:07 PM:

" WOW!! Charter School of the Dunes in Gary has made huge growth. For the first time since the school has opened there is significant growth across grade levels. With some grades scoring higher than the state average. Great job to all students, teachers, parents, and staff. "

Parent wrote on Dec 5, 2008 3:58 PM:

" But private schools can admit or deny admittance to any student for behavior, learning disability, or other reasons. Public schools can't. You're also talking about a highly transient population, where kids move fairly often. It's tough to uphold standards when there's no telling where these kids have been or what they've been taught so far. "

Joey Bacalao wrote on Dec 5, 2008 3:06 PM:

" We need to look at the Data.
Catholic Schools scores out perform public Schools. Why?
We need to stop giving Excuses for Public Schools.Give the Teachers power to make Choices that will benefit them and the Children. Teachers parents and Administration working together. Focusing on education,Budget and Curriculum.
congratulations Catholic Schools. "

Response to Hammond Teacher wrote on Dec 5, 2008 2:49 PM:

" It's not always money that makes the scores higher. It's a combination of parental support and good teachers. "

Proud Parent wrote on Dec 5, 2008 2:09 PM:

" Congrats to St. Joseph School in Dyer. 97.8% pass rate over all grades...way to go! "

Hammond Teacher wrote on Dec 5, 2008 12:20 PM:

" You really can't compare Hammond Public Schools with private Catholic schools. Parents sending their kids to those schools are paying a large tuition, so the student demographics at those schools are much different than the demographics at the public schools. If Gavit only let in students whose parents shelled out a few thousand dollars, our scores would be high too. "

Compare by City wrote on Dec 5, 2008 9:06 AM:

" Look at Hammond Public Schools compared to Hammond Private (Catholic) Schools, even with MUCH MUCH MUCH less funding per pupil, the Catholic schools blow the public schools (with 11,000 spent per pupil) out of the water. Will this FINALLY prove to the people downstate and the people suing that money doesn't make kids learn, parents who CARE make kids learn. "

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