On Monday, August 1, the New Mexico Department of Public
Education released its annual school ratings for 2005.
These ratings are based on the results of the New Mexico
Standards-Based Assessments (NMSBA), achievement tests
given to students in grades 3-9 and grade 11 in the spring
of 2005.
"It is important for parents
to look beyond the label to determine how well schools
and districts are educating children.
Overall, students at all Rio Rancho schools did well on
the tests, and we are very proud of our children and our
teachers and staff."
Dr. Sue Cleveland, Superintendent
Click here to view a Printable version of this report.
NEW, CHALLENGING TESTS
This year, the state adopted entirely new tests,
supplied by a different testing company, that raise the
bar for student achievement. These rigorous tests are based
on the state standards that define what students should
know and be able to do at each grade level. The new tests
include multiple-choice questions, questions that require
students to write an answer or explanation, and some questions
that are a combination of the two. Some math questions require
students to show their work and explain how they arrived
at the answer.
COMPARING APPLES AND ORANGES
Because these are new tests that were administered to
many more students than last year’s standards-based
tests, this year’s results should not be compared
to last year’s. This year’s test results will
establish new baselines that can be used for comparison
in future years. In 2003-04, only students in grades 4,
8, and 11 were tested. The new tests cover grades 3 -
9 and grade 11.
At Rio Rancho’s three middle schools, it is especially
important to not compare scores. These schools last year
were rated on the basis of the Mid-High School’s
scores, since 6th and 7th graders did not take the test
in 2003-04.
WHAT IS AYP ANYWAY, AND HOW DO YOU MEET
IT?
Schools may achieve a rating of “Meets AYP”
or “AYP Not Met”. AYP stands for “adequate
yearly progress”, and refers to the federally-mandated
goal that all students demonstrate proficiency in reading
and math by the year 2014. The academic data is reported
in terms of the percentage of students the state finds
demonstrated proficiency on the new tests in mathematics
and reading.
In order for a school to meet AYP, ALL of the following
criteria must be met. If a school fails to meet any one
of the 37 data points set down in the criteria, the school
is rated “AYP Not Met.”
-
All students in the school, and students
in each of eight “subgroups” (Caucasian,
African-American, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific, Native American,
English-Language Learners (ELL), special ed students,
and students qualifying for free and reduced lunch benefits
(FRLP)), must meet the state’s targets for percent
testing proficient or above in reading and math
-
A minimum of 95% of students in the
school and 95% of students in each subgroup must take
the tests. This is called “participation rate.”
-
Finally, elementary and middle schools
must meet attendance targets, and high schools must
meet graduation rate targets.
DON’T LET THE LABEL FOOL YOU
 The
state’s accountability system makes no distinction
between schools that fail to meet AYP by just one
or two data points and those with problems across
many areas. It is therefore important for parents
to look beyond the label of “AYP Not Met”
to determine how well schools and districts are educating
children. Overall, students at all Rio Rancho schools
did well on the tests, and we are very proud of our
children and our teachers and staff.
It is important to note that achievement tests like
the NMSBA are a snapshot of how our students performed
at one particular point in time. This test provides
us with useful information about where our instruction
is effective and where students need extra help. We
use this data, along with information from the NWEA
“levels tests” and student performance
on assignments throughout the year, to adjust our
instructional strategies for your child and our children
in general. Individual data about each child’s
performance and more information on each school’s
performance will be available to parents early in
the school year.
WHY DID SOME SCHOOLS NOT MAKE AYP?
Seven of the 13 Rio Rancho schools rated
in 2005 achieved ratings of “Meets AYP.”
Of those who did not meet AYP:
-
Two schools (Rio Rancho HS and
Stapleton Elementary) did not do so solely because
of the participation rate. RRHS would have made
AYP had one additional Hispanic student and one
additional special education student adequately
completed the test. Stapleton would have made AYP
had one additional special education student adequately
completed the test.
-
Two schools (Rio Rancho Mid-High and
Eagle Ridge Middle School) did not make AYP based solely
on special education results on the reading test.
-
One school -- Puesta del Sol -- did
not make AYP based on special education results in reading
and math and participation of special education students.
-
Independence High School did not make
AYP based on its graduation rate and participation of
students on the mathematics portion of the test. The
participation rate was 94.2%, so IHS missed this data
point by one student.
Click
here to view individual school reports.
WHAT IS A “SCHOOL IN NEED OF IMPROVEMENT,”
AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
When a school fails to meet AYP for two consecutive years,
regardless of the reason, it becomes designated as a “school
in need of improvement.” This year, for the first
time, Rio Rancho Public Schools has four schools that
fall into this designation: Eagle Ridge Middle School,
Independence HS, Rio Rancho Mid-High, and Rio Rancho HS.
To learn more about this designation and what it means,
please click here.
If you have questions about your child’s or school’s
test results, please feel free to contact your child’s
teacher or the school principal. They will be glad to
work with you and your child to help you understand the
results and apply them to help your child achieve academic
success.
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