Saint Paul MAT7 scores continue to climb!

Saint Paul MAT7 scores continue to climb!
6/7/2002 10:10 AM

Saint Paul Public Schools students have improved their performance on the Metropolitan Achievement Test (MAT7), the district’s standardized test that measures individual student achievement in grades 2 through 10.

On the basic battery scores for all students tested, scores went from 45.4 to 46.2 when comparing spring 2001 to spring 2002 scores. Scores for students who have been enrolled in the same school for at least one year increased from 46.2 to 46.7 NCEs. Since 1999, the districtwide average MAT7 basic battery score for all students tested has climbed steadily upward, from 44.2 NCEs in fall 1999 to 46.2 NCEs in spring 2002.

Forty-five schools improve. Overall, 45 schools had better scores in 2002 than in 2001. Of those 45, nine schools made significant gains. Significant is defined by gains of three or more Normal Curve Equivalents (NCEs). The NCE is the most accurate way to measure growth over time for groups of students.
School 2001 Score (NCEs) 2002 Score (NCEs) NCE gain*
Dayton’s Bluff 28.3 34.8 6.4
Randolph Heights Elementary 50.0 55.7 5.7
Ames Elementary 35.8 40.6 4.8
Bruce Vento Elementary 32.4 36.7 4.3
Mississippi Creative Arts Magnet 47.8 51.6 3.9
Open School 45.9 49.7 3.7
Museum Magnet 48.9 52.6 3.7
Saturn-Riverfront Academy 35.8 39.3 3.5
Cleveland Quality Middle School 35.9 39.0 3.1
* Some numbers may not add up due to rounding.

Superintendent Pat Harvey said that while there still is a lot of work to do to help students achieve at higher levels, she is pleased that students in a large number of schools are showing improvement. “We will remain relentless in our pursuit of excellence for the kids of Saint Paul. The results we are releasing today provide further evidence that our schools are on the right track for continuous improvement.”

Students of color and English Language Learners make gains. English Language Learner scores increased from 34.1 to 34.5 NCEs; scores of Asian American students increased from 40.1 to 41.3 NCEs; and scores of African American students increased from 37.0 to 38.3 NCEs. Scores of American Indian and Hispanic students remained stable at 44.1 NCEs and 41.7 NCEs respectively.

Three schools to move off probation. Three of the four schools remaining on academic probation improved their performance on the MAT7 and will be removed from probationary status — Dayton’s Bluff (which had a 6.4 NCE gain), Humboldt Senior High (which had a 1.1 NCE gain) and Maxfield Elementary (which had a .9 NCE gain).

All district schools will be placed in new categories late next fall, when the district’s new accountability system with multiple indicators (including attendance, graduation rate, and school satisfaction surveys) takes effect. Additional information about the new accountability framework is available on the district’s Web site at www.spps.org.

“We will take the next few weeks to further analyze these test results and provide data that will be helpful to teachers and principals in making instructional decisions.

“One thing we know right now is that the investment we are making in the elementary schools is paying off in improved student achievement. We will be looking very carefully at expanding our work in balanced literacy, math and science to the teaching staffs at our middle and junior high schools,” Dr. Harvey said.

District and individual school scores are available on the district’s Web site at www.spps.org.