The Newport-Mesa Unified School District showed gains in most of its
standardized test scores this year, with English and mathematics
scores rising even as high school science scores took a distinct
drop.
District administrators hailed the scores as a sign of progress,
noting that schools showed growth in English and math at every grade
level and that some schools more than doubled their percentages of
proficient and advanced scores from a year ago.
"The magic of it all, the secret, is hard work -- making sure
standards are taught at every grade level," said Supt. Robert Barbot.
"As we've all learned, it's just a lot of hard work and
concentration."
The state Dept. of Education released the 2005 results Monday
morning for both the Standardized Testing and Reporting program and
the California High School Exit Exam. Newport-Mesa outperformed the
state on both, with 76% of students passing both the English and math
sections on the high school exit exam. The state averages were 65%
for English and 63% for math.
In addition, Newport-Mesa surpassed the state standardized testing
results at every grade level in English, history and science, and at
nearly all grade levels in math.
Some of the individual schools' scores also marked breakthroughs.
Those making the largest bounds in 2004-05 were Paularino Elementary
and Killybrooke Elementary, two schools in less affluent areas of
Costa Mesa.
Paularino's percentage of second-graders scoring as proficient or
advanced on the English test jumped from 30% in 2004 to 62% this
year. Killybrooke had the district's highest increase in math for its
fifth-graders, with the number rising from 14% to 46%.
In another positive sign, Newport-Mesa made up some of its losses
from the year before. In 2003-04, the district saw decreases in both
math and English scores for second-graders, and staggering drops
among Corona del Mar High School algebra students. This year, the
second-grade scores rose close to levels from two years ago, while
Corona del Mar posted slightly higher algebra marks.
Barbot said that two possible reasons for Newport-Mesa's improved
scores this year were the implementation of a Houghton-Mifflin
language arts assessment program in elementary schools, and an effort
by administrators to get more classified staff involved in the tests.
Bus drivers, cafeteria workers and other employees served as proctors
this year, with some even making breakfast for the test takers.
"It's hard to measure the impact, but it certainly had one,"
