Webutuck plans to address low state math achievement test scores

WEBUTUCK— Given the results of the 2017 Grades 3 to 8 English Language Arts (ELA) and Math Test results, the North East (Webutuck) Central School District has already established goals to improve student achievement — especially in math.

According to NY Databases, each of the test’s four levels indicates where students are in their assessment. Levels 3 and 4 reflect proficiency. 

Compared to last year’s results, the percentage of students in New York state in grades three through eight who scored at the proficient level increased by 1.9 percent in this year’s ELA assessment and by 1.1 percent in math.

Nineteen Webutuck students were tested in eighth-grade math with a 53 percent in Level 1 mathematics,  47 percent in Level 2 and none in Levels 3 and 4. Together, the mean score for the state is 280.

Those scores reflect the low number of test takers in the Webutuck district, according to Webutuck Superintendent of Schools Ray Castellani.

When compared to other school districts in Dutchess County, the number of Webutuck students tested for eighth-grade math is lower. According to this year’s results, the Poughkeepsie City School District had the greatest number of students tested for eighth-grade math at 242, followed by Wappingers Central School District with 238 students and Arlington Central School District with 180 students. 

Only a handful of Dutchess County school districts demonstrated proficiency in Level 4 mathematics, including Rhinebeck Central School District at 5 percent, Spackenkill Union Free School District at 3 percent and Red Hook Central School District at 2 percent.

Asked about the small number of students who took the math assessments at Webutuck, Castellani said, “Here’s the conundrum that we face. We have a number of eighth-grade students that take advanced courses, so they actually participate in the high school Regents algebra course and Regents test and have fared well.”

As a result of their taking high school Regents exams, the superintendent explained, students don’t have to take the eighth-grade assessments, even though they probably would have excelled. The low number of students who took the assessments is a direct result of the number of students who opted to take Regents instead. According to Castellani, 13 eighth-grade students took the algebra Common Core Regents at Webutuck, all receiving master level results. Eleven eighth-grade students took the biology and living environment Regents at Webutuck; eight achieved the master level.

Webutuck plans to prevent future low test scores among the remainder of students who have yet to take the state assessments by improving instructional practices, evaluating curriculum and increasing academic intervention.

“I think the assessment itself is a weakness,” Castellani said. “We have to look internally at what areas the students are being assessed on and how to address those areas, and the teachers have to be accountable in doing that.

“Without question, I have all the confidence in [middle school principal] Mr. [Erik] Lynch and in the teaching staff,” Castellani added.

“We want to make sure that we continue to look at where the students’ needs are and where they need to improve,” said the superintendent. “It concerns us, so we’re addressing it everyday.”

Meanwhile, in neighboring Pine Plains, the school district faces a similar issue. After testing a total of 18 students in eighth-grade math, state test results show 44 percent scored in Level 1 mathematics, 50 percent in Level 2, 6 percent in Level 3 and 0 percent in Level 4.

In the Millbrook school district, Superintendent of Schools Philip D’Angelo praised both the district’s students and teachers for the results of this year’s test, noting that the district is always looking to improve. 

After testing a total of 40 students in eighth-grade math, 15 percent scored well in Level 1, 70 percent in Level 2, 15 percent in Level 3 and 0 percent in Level 4.

“We have been providing more professional development for our teachers and they have really embraced it,” D’Angelo said. “I am extremely pleased with where we’re at.”