Two ISTEPS Forward, One ISTEP Back
Indianapolis Public Schools remained relatively flat in the latest round of ISTEP testing scores and that could mean some schools are closer to being taken over by the state. The Indiana State Department of Education has released the results this morning. ISTEP is used to measure student performance in English, Math, Social Studies and Science. Students in grades 3-8 take English, language arts and math. Students in grades 4 and 6 take science, while students in grades 5 and 7 take social studies. Sixty IPS schools participated in the ISTEP test.
The district loss ground in math test scores, made slight improvements in English/Language Arts and was virtually stagnant in the number of students passing both. Below is a breakdown.
ISTEP Math
- 57.9% (2011), 59.6 % (2010)
ISTEP English/Language Arts
- 56.2% (2011), 55.8% (2010)
Students passing both English/LA and Math
- 44.6% (2011), 45.1% (2010)
As you can see the overall results are practically flat. Statewide, the average pass rate for math was 79%; for English/LA it was 78%.
While the state is looking to takeover several failing IPS schools, the ISTEP test results would not have much impact at the high school level, however at Emma Donnan Middle school which is slated for possible takeover, the results were mixed. The number of students passing math went from 50.1% to 48.2%; English went from 40.6% to 41.5% and the number of students passing both went from 33.8% to 32.4%. I would argue that last number is the most damning as IPS made no progress, but instead went backward.
It’s also worth noting the ISTEP test results at Broad Ripple HS and Arlington. Both have 8th grade students and both are slated for possible takeover as well, as is George Washington Community School which serves grades 7-12. Here are their results…
Broad Ripple*
- Math – 60.6% (2011), 66.4% (2010)
- English/LA – 61.6% (2011), 72.3% (2010)
- Students passing both – 46.3% (2011), 58.4% (2010)
- Note, this was the school where Dr. Eugene White’s “turnaround” plan was already in effect.
Arlington
- Math – 21.3% (2011), 31.3% (2010)
- English/LA – 26.6% (2011), 27.3% (2010)
- Students passing both – 14.3% (2011), 15.0% (2010)
George Washington Community
- Math – 40.7% (2011), 43% (2010)
- English/LA – 36.4% (2011), 33.8% (2010)
- Students passing both – 22.6% (2011), 24.2% (2010)
These are not good numbers for a school district that is fighting for its survival. IPS has started a door-to-door campaign to get parents to come back to the district, however who wants to go to a district where less than half the students can pass basic English and Math tests? There are some diamonds in the rough, but you have to dig through a lot of coal to get there and who wants to go through that much effort?
