The CRCT exam is administered annually to students in grades 3 through 8 in reading, mathematics, science, social studies and English Language Arts. (Photo By: Tammy Garnes)
ATLANTA – APS students improved their performance on the 2011 Criterion Referenced Competency Test (CRCT), showing gains in 20 of the 30 grade and subject areas tested compared to the results of the 2010 CRCT exam.
APS students had performance gains exceeding state improvements in 15 of the 30 grade and subject areas tested. This performance is consistent with past CRCT results for APS students in continuing to narrow the achievement gap with state averages.
The gains in the percentage of students meeting or exceeding standards were reflective of the increased rigor and curriculum focus in reading, math and social studies, with achievement gains on the 2011 CRCT ranging from 1 to 10 percentage points compared to the results of the 2010 test.
“These student achievement gains came amidst improvements to APS testing administration and security policies, procedures and protocols for both the 2010 and 2011 CRCT exams,” said Superintendent Dr. Beverly L. Hall. “These improvements include locked, limited-access safe rooms for testing materials in all schools; the rotation of teachers to different classrooms during testing; sealed envelopes with security strips for test answer sheets; and state monitors in place in select schools.”
APS students increased their performance in math at all tested grade levels, except in 6th grade, which remained at the same level as last year. The increased performance in the other tested grades ranged from 3 to 7 percentage points.
APS students increased their performance in reading at all tested grade levels, except in 4th grade, which showed a 1 percentage point decline which is the same as the state change at that grade level. The APS student performance increase at the other tested grade levels range from 2 to 5 percentage points.
Social studies performance also increased for all APS students over 2010 results, ranging from 1 to 10 percentage points.
When compared to 2010, CRCT results in science fluctuated depending on the grade level.
“This is the kind of consistent academic performance improvement you would expect to see in urban school districts that have implemented innovative programs and quality instruction and curriculum over a long period of time,” said Dr. Hall. “I am confident that this level of achievement will continue and escalate in the years to come based on what has been put in place over the past decade.”
The CRCT exam is administered annually to students in grades 3 through 8 in reading, mathematics, science, social studies and English Language Arts.
