Baker County students taking the FCAT writing test this year showed significant gains over last year’s scores, according to test results released last week by the Florida Department of Education.

The percentage of tenth graders scoring at or above grade level on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, or FCAT, writing exam increased the most from 64 percent in 2009 to 90 percent this year.

The portion of fourth graders doing so jumped 15 percent, and among eight graders the share scoring at or above grade level rose three percent.

“We are especially pleased with our writing scores,” said Superintendent Sherrie Raulerson this week. “Last year we had one student receive a score of 6, which is the highest level possible. This year we had 21 students earn a 6.”

Students scoring 3 or above are considered performing on grade level.
FCAT scores also increased, though less dramatically, on the science test taken by fifth and eleventh graders.

The younger group’s percentage of students scoring at or above grade level rose six percent to 47 percent of fifth graders. The portion of juniors at the high school scoring at or above grade level rose from 30 percent to 37 percent.

Other district-wide results from the 2010 FCAT were mixed.
Fifth graders had declines in reading but gains in math, and fourth graders displayed the opposite.

However, sixth, seventh, ninth and tenth graders posted gains in both areas, while third and eighth graders slipped slightly in math and reading, compared to scores from 2009.

“Overall, our school district continues to make gains and show continuous growth in student achievement,” said the superintendent. “We are very excited about the upward trends and are proud of all our schools and their scores.”

Among the district’s two elementary schools, Macclenny Elementary students outperformed Westside Elementary in reading — 83 to 80 percent of students at or above grade level — and Westside topped Macclenny in on the math portion of the test by six percentage points.

Compared with last year’s scores, Macclenny Elementary had one point rise in reading and three points in math, but Westside slid four percentage points in reading and five points in math.

Keller Intermediate’s fourth graders had four percent fewer students score at or above grade level than last year, but four percent more did so on the math portion. The school’s fifth graders showed the opposite trend, with a one percent rise in reading and one percent drop in math.
Middle school students gained in all areas, except eighth grade reading, math and science scores, which fell by four percent or less.

High school students improved FCAT scores across the board, compared to 2009.
Tenth grade reading scores jumped six percent and math scores by four percent. The percent of eleventh graders scoring a 3 or above improved from 30 to 37 on the science test. Tenth graders gained six points in reading and four points in math.

“These scores validate that our instructional programs are producing positive results,” Ms. Raulerson said. “We look forward to continuing improvement at all levels throughout the district. With the help of our community, parents, students, and teachers, we will continue to focus on constantly improving and analyzing our data to meet the needs of each and every student. There is ongoing professional development at every school that addresses best teaching practices and keeps teachers abreast of the most current research and teaching standards.”