Results show rise in performance in all main subjects

Across the Sweetwater School District, academic achievement is climbing.

Results from the latest California Standardized Tests (STAR) show students in Sweetwater schools made great strides in all core subjects including math, reading, writing, science and history.

The percentage of students scoring proficient or advanced increased by 7% or more in Spring 2011 compared with Spring 2010 in the following areas: Grade 10 English (+8%); Grade 11 English (+8%); Algebra II (+10%); Biology (+7%); Grade 10 Life Science (+8%); Grade 8 Physical Science (+9%); World History (+8%).

“We are extremely happy to see our students, at all grade levels, showing such tremendous growth in achievement,” said School Board President John McCann. “These results show that effective teaching and learning is taking place at Sweetwater schools.”

Student proficiency improved in all areas tested from the previous year, except in Grade 9 English (-1%) and Grade 7 math where no change in score was posted.

Each spring, California students in grades two through eleven take a STAR test to evaluate performance in math, reading, writing, science, and history. In each subject area, the tests are based on state academic standards. Students are rated as being at advanced, proficient, basic, below basic or far below basic level according to their scores.

“Sweetwater puts a premium on improving instruction,” said Acting Superintendent Ed Brand. “We’ve increased academic rigor and aligned our curriculum with state and federal standards. Clearly we’re on the right track.”

In recent years, the district adopted several initiatives to raise achievement. Teachers continually monitor learning by administering standards-based tests developed in the district. This allows early identification of struggling students so they may be offered academic support at the first sign of learning difficulties rather than waiting for them to fail.

The district has streamlined the curriculum to narrow the focus to the core subject areas and has committed to making the course requirements for the UC/CSU systems the default curriculum. This is aimed at preparing more students to be eligible to enter university.

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