Local Mastery Test Scores

Show A Positive Trend

By Larissa Lytwyn

Last fall’s Connecticut Mastery Test (CMT) scores — expected early this spring — finally arrived at Newtown’s Board of Education office on June 25. The results showed continuing progress in performance by fourth, sixth, and eighth graders.

Delays in releasing the scores were caused by errors in the state Department of Education’s scoring system.

The CMT, comprised of math, writing, and reading subtests, is administered each year to the three grades.

The test is a significant factor in evaluating Connecticut’s educational progress in accordance to the No Child Left Behind Act. Students are tested on whether they have met both proficiency standards under the No Child Left Behind Act and slightly higher aiming state goals.

A formal analysis by the state education department on which schools are making “adequate yearly progress,” and which are not, will be released this August.

According to Assistant Superintendent of Schools Alice Jackson, “almost all” of Newtown’s subtest scores “were at or above ERG [economic reference group] average.”

Newtown’s scores, particularly among eighth graders, have increased steadily in recent years.

Among eighth graders in math, for example, 71 percent were at goal in 2000, 76 percent in 2001, 80 percent in 2002, and 83.6 percent in 2003.

In reading, eighth graders scored 84 percent at goal in 2000, 85 percent in 2001, and 90 percent in both 2002 and 2003.

This year, 96 percent of eighth graders met goal in math and reading and 97 percent made goal in writing.

“Although these are different groups of students and should not be compared with each other,” Ms Jackson said, the overall trend was positive.

Among Newtown’s fourth graders, 94 percent were considered proficient in math and writing and 90 percent in reading.

Among sixth graders, 98 percent — the highest among Ridgefield, Bethel, Brookfield, Danbury, New Fairfield, and New Milford — met proficiency standards in math while 92 percent met goal in reading and 93 percent in writing.

“In many areas, we have 40 to 45 percent of students performing at the advanced level,” Ms Jackson noted, “and fewer than five percent at the remedial level.”

This indicates, she continued, that the district’s model “All students can and will learn well” philosophy is truly becoming a reality.

The CMT’s “general upward trend,” she said, “shows that we are beginning to have high quality, consistent instruction for our students.”

Ms Jackson also lauded Newtown’s educators in their ongoing efforts to give the town’s children the best education possible.

“We have an incredible staff that care deeply about our students,” she said, “and how they learn. I am so grateful for the opportunity to work with them.”