Test results are in from Iowa.
And for school districts on the Peninsula from Neah Bay to Port Townsend, it will be the last time for this particular test, at least.
Last week, the state released the Iowa Test of Educational Development’s scores for standardized examinations taken by the state’s ninth-grade students in the spring.
An analysis of eight North Olympic Peninsula school district test scores shows that six of them scored above the national average of 50 percent on the test and two of them scored just below the national mean.
Starting next school year, students statewide will only have to take the Washington Assessment of Student Learning exam.
Unlike the Iowa-based test administered in the state since 1999, the WASL is composed of an essay and short answer and multiple-choice questions — the Iowa test is only multiple choice — and measures student performances against an independent mean and not against other students.
The Iowa-based test results are broken down into three sections: reading, math and expression.
Of the eight Peninsula districts, Port Townsend School District’s ninth-grade class achieved the best results, scoring in the 66th percentile on average of the three main subject matters — 14 points higher than the national median score.
Following closely behind Port Townsend School District were Sequim, 61 percent; Port Angeles, 58 percent; Chimacum, 58 percent; Crescent, 55 percent; Quilcene, 50 percent; Cape Flattery, 47 percent; and Quillayute Valley, 44 percent.
On the Net
SCORES FOR SPECIFIC schools and districts, and more detailed statewide information are on the Web site of the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction at http:/reportcard.ospi.k12.wa.us.
