MONROE - Despite higher benchmarks, the Monroe school district met or surpassed state averages in all but two categories of testing on the Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Examinations administered last fall.
The test is given annually to students in grades three through eight and grade 10. But this year, "Wisconsin raised the WKCE scores needed for students to reach the basic, proficient and advanced performance levels in reading and math," according to Day Keyser, director of curriculum and instruction for the Monroe school district.
Because of these higher benchmarks, districts throughout the state will show lower numbers of students hitting the proficient or advanced level, he said in a news release Tuesday, April 23.
"This does not reflect a change in the abilities of students, teachers or schools. It only reflects the higher standards and aspirations we have for our students and schools," he said in the release. The state is on a "rapid trajectory toward higher standards," including implementing Common Core State Standards, Wisconsin School Report Cards and improved curriculum standards for students with disabilities and who are learning English.
"Raising the WKCE benchmarks is part of a strategic effort to ensure our students are ready for college and careers," Keyser said.
The local test scores, which the district released Tuesday, show the strongest WKCE performance compared to the rest of the state in fourth- and fifth-grade math. Of Monroe fourth-graders, 58 percent achieved proficient or advanced levels, compared to 48 percent of students statewide. In fifth grade, 60 percent of Monroe students performed at proficient or advanced levels; across the state, 50 percent of students achieved that ranking.
The next highest level of performance compared to students across the state came in third-grade math, where 56 percent of Monroe students tested at proficient or advanced levels, compared to 47 percent across the state.
In seventh-grade reading, Monroe came in with 37 percent achieving proficient or advanced levels, the same as the state.
In sixth-grade reading, the district's lowest ranking category, Monroe students had only 26 percent achieving proficient or advanced levels, compared to 34 percent statewide. And in tenth-grade math, Monroe students performed slightly under the state average: In Monroe, 43 percent of students attained proficient or advanced levels, compared to 44 percent of students statewide.
The highest score for Monroe students came in fourth-grade Social Studies, where 93 percent of students attained at least proficient ranking, compared to 90 percent statewide.
The test is given annually to students in grades three through eight and grade 10. But this year, "Wisconsin raised the WKCE scores needed for students to reach the basic, proficient and advanced performance levels in reading and math," according to Day Keyser, director of curriculum and instruction for the Monroe school district.
Because of these higher benchmarks, districts throughout the state will show lower numbers of students hitting the proficient or advanced level, he said in a news release Tuesday, April 23.
"This does not reflect a change in the abilities of students, teachers or schools. It only reflects the higher standards and aspirations we have for our students and schools," he said in the release. The state is on a "rapid trajectory toward higher standards," including implementing Common Core State Standards, Wisconsin School Report Cards and improved curriculum standards for students with disabilities and who are learning English.
"Raising the WKCE benchmarks is part of a strategic effort to ensure our students are ready for college and careers," Keyser said.
The local test scores, which the district released Tuesday, show the strongest WKCE performance compared to the rest of the state in fourth- and fifth-grade math. Of Monroe fourth-graders, 58 percent achieved proficient or advanced levels, compared to 48 percent of students statewide. In fifth grade, 60 percent of Monroe students performed at proficient or advanced levels; across the state, 50 percent of students achieved that ranking.
The next highest level of performance compared to students across the state came in third-grade math, where 56 percent of Monroe students tested at proficient or advanced levels, compared to 47 percent across the state.
In seventh-grade reading, Monroe came in with 37 percent achieving proficient or advanced levels, the same as the state.
In sixth-grade reading, the district's lowest ranking category, Monroe students had only 26 percent achieving proficient or advanced levels, compared to 34 percent statewide. And in tenth-grade math, Monroe students performed slightly under the state average: In Monroe, 43 percent of students attained proficient or advanced levels, compared to 44 percent of students statewide.
The highest score for Monroe students came in fourth-grade Social Studies, where 93 percent of students attained at least proficient ranking, compared to 90 percent statewide.