Eight out of 13 schools in the North Little Rock School District showed an increase in achievement for English Language Arts and math, according to preliminary results from the ACT Aspire that students took last spring. The test was administered in students third through tenth grades.
Glenview Elementary School showed the highest jump in achievement – a 10.89 point gain – followed by Meadow Park Elementary (7.75), Crestwood Elementary (4.01), Indian Hills Elementary (3.01), Amboy Elementary (2.07), Lakewood Elementary (1.52), North Little Rock High (1.1), and Seventh Street (.30).
“The preliminary results serve as early signs that the systems and expectations of teaching and learning in place are having a direct impact on student achievement,” said Dr. Gregory J. Pilewski, Superintendent of the North Little Rock School District. \t
The NLRSD also saw an increase in the percentage of students who scored either “Ready” or “Exceeding” levels in English Language Arts and math. Students’ results are categories by the following performance bands: In Need of Support, Ready, and Exceeding.
“This is really good information,” said Yaa McNulty, the Coordinator of Accountability, Assessment, and Data Management, who presented the data at the August Regular Board Meeting. ”We are seeing that our students are moving in the area of achievement.”
Here are some other highlights found in the data:
Three out of 13 campuses met state and national levels based on achievement (Crestwood, Lakewood, and Indian Hills)
Students in third through fifth and seventh grade showed an increase in math and English Language Arts
Ninth and tenth grade students increased scores in science
Multiple campuses moved students into different performance bands (In Need of Support to Ready, Ready to Exceeding)
Please click on this link to view the presentation.
The district attributes the increase in student achievement to the exceptional work of teachers and building leaders, the implementation of the Curriculum Innovation and Design Department, and the coaching of the math and literacy coordinators.
ACT Aspire is an interactive assessment system for students in grades 3-10 that provide deep and rich insights into student performance in English, reading, mathematics, science, and writing in the context of college and career readiness.
ACT Aspire results account for 35% of a school’s letter grade. Other variables, such as attendance, students’ reading proficiency levels, graduation rate, etc., are all factors that are calculated to determine a school’s letter grade. School letter grades are expected to be released in the fall.