The Bellwood-Antis School Board heard from Administrative Assistant, Donald Wagner, at last week’s meeting regarding the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) test results.
Wagner’s presentation showed Bellwood-Antis third graders performed slightly lower than statewide percentages. However, Wagner said although the marks were not hit this year, it was the first year for testing at this grade level and the third graders are not that far off of the target.
Fifth graders were also tested and performed significantly higher in both reading and math than the state totals. In reading, the number of students in the proficient and advanced categories was higher than the statewide results. In math, 58.4 percent of Bellwood-Antis fifth graders fell into the advanced category.
Eighth graders were tested in reading and math and the results showed Bellwood-Antis students received marks above the statewide scores.
Reading and math was also tested at the 11th grade level, with Bellwood-Antis students scoring significantly above state results in reading. Forty-eight percent of Bellwood-Antis 11th graders were ranked in the advanced category according to their test results.
As for 11th grade math, Wagner said this appears to be the most challenging area of the PSSA tests, however, Bellwood-Antis exceeded the state marks in both the proficient and advanced categories.
Wagner also explained another system the school is implementing, the Pennsylvania Value Added Assessment Systems (PVAAS).
He said currently the school volunteered to participate but it will eventually be required of all 501 Pennsylvania school districts.
Wagner gave an example, showing how PVAAS looks at test scores from third and fourth grade. In turn an individualized prediction for the fifth grade PSSA test is made for each student. The mean actual scores and the mean predicted scores are found for students in the school.
After sharing the PVAAS calculations with the board, the results for third grade were low, but Wagner said that was to be expected.
“Being the first year for third grade, this was kind of like a shot in the dark,” said Wagner.
He continued, saying “In grade five, our curriculum strategies are working extremely well. Right now we are right where we need to be or well beyond where we need to be.”
Wagner explained that from the results gathered from PVAAS, the school will be able to identify strengths and weaknesses within the curriculum and adjust instruction as needed.
