BY ERIKA NORTON
WEST MILFORD — Since the PARCC exams began in New Jersey in 2015, West Milford students’ scores have improved overall for the majority of the English language arts and math tests.
Students in grades 3-11 are tested annually in both English language arts and math, with the tests graded from Level 1 to Level 5.
As most New Jersey parents know, Level 4 and 5 are the goal, with Level 4 meaning the student met grade-level expectations and Level 5 meaning the student exceeded grade-level expectations.
Out of the 18 total tests, the proficiency rate for West Milford students increased in seven out of the nine ELA tests and eight out of the nine math tests since 2015.
The three tests that have a net decrease in passing grades are 6th grade ELA, 11th grade ELA and Algebra II.
The number of students opting to take the test has also increased, according to Superintendent Alex Anemone, by 39.6 percent in ELA and 38.8 percent in math.
“Our students have made significant progress on the PARCC since testing began in 2015,” Anemone said. “More students are taking and passing the PARCC. We look forward to continued success in the future.”
AnalysisWhen looking at the ELA scores, the highest increase in passing scores since 2015 is the 7th grade test, with a 19.8 percent increase in students scoring a 4 or 5. Meanwhile, the 11th grade test has seen an 18.7 percent decrease in students scoring a 4 or 5 since 2015, with a 7.6 percent decrease from the previous year.
This year, the highest average score was the 4th grade ELA test, with 63.1 percent receiving a score of 4 or 5. The lowest average score in 2018 was the 11th grade ELA test, with 29.3 percent recieving a 4 or 5.
The 3rd grade ELA test saw the biggest improvement from the previous year, with 6.4 percent more students scoring a 4 or 5. On the flip side, the 5th grade ELA test saw an almost 10 percent decrease in students scoring a 4 or 5 from 2017.
When looking at the math tests, the passing rate for almost every test has increased since they began in 2015, the highest being 5th grade, with a 15.6 percent increase in students scoring a 4 or 5.
The only test that hasn’t seen an overall increase since 2015 is the Algebra II test, which has seen students scoring a 4 or 5 decrease by 3.4 percent.
The highest average score this year was the 3rd grade math test, with 60.4 percent receiving a score of 4 or 5. The lowest average score in 2018 was the Geometry test, with only 16.2 percent of students receiving a 4 or 5 score.
The Algebra I test saw the biggest improvement from the previous year, with 7.5 percent more students scoring a 4 or 5. On the flip side, the Algebra II test saw an almost 10 percent decrease in students scoring a 4 or 5 from 2017.
Changes to this year’s testsAs teachers prepare students for the spring 2019 exams, the state the Department of Education recently approved two changes.
The tests will no longer be called PARCC tests, but will now be called the New Jersey Student Learning Assessments, or NJSLA for short. Both the ELA and math tests will have fewer questions, resulting in fewer units, testing blocks and testing lengths.
There are additional proposals for changes being considered by the New Jersey State Board of Education, but those changes have not been approved.
These proposals include the elimination of ELA 11 and only providing an end of course math assessment for students who are in grades 9 and 10 if they are in Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II.
According to the New Jersey Education Association, which supports the proposed changes, a final vote by the New Jersey State Board of Education on these changes is possible in December or January.