CHEYENNE – Spring 2016 statewide testing results released today by the Wyoming Department of Education indicated proficiency rates increased across most grade levels and content areas when compared to results achieved in 2015.

“These positive strides are the result of some great work from our schools, teachers, parents, and students,” said State Superintendent Jillian Balow. “We’ve seen high commitment to not only align curriculum with standards, but to go above and beyond where possible. Based on the efforts we’ve seen from school districts to learn from each other and take advantage of the system of support, it’s obvious that our kids come first in Wyoming.”

School, district, and state results are available on the WDE’s Fusion site. They include results for the Proficiency Assessments for Wyoming Students (PAWS) and alternate assessments in reading and mathematics for students in grades 3 through 8, and in science for grades 4 and 8.

The percent of students who were proficient or advanced in reading in 2014 was 62% is grade 3, 64% in grade 4, 58% in grade 5, 57% in grade 6, 59% in grade 7, and 58% in grade 8. In 2015 it was 61% in grade 3, 60% in grade 4, 59% in grade 5, 57% in grade 6, 57% in grade 7, and 52% in grade 8. In 2016 it was 58% in grade 3, 65% in grade 4, 61% in grade 5, 58% in grade 6, 60% in grade 7, and 54% in grade 8.

The percentage of students who are proficient or advanced in mathematics in 2014 is 51% in grade 3, 47% in grade 4, 54% in grade 5, 49% in grade 6, 43% in grade 7, and 50% in grade 8. In 2015, it was 49% in grade 3, 51% in grade 4, 53% in grade 5, 49% in grade 6, 42% in grade 7, and 47% in grade 8. In 2016, it is 53% in grade 3, 55% in grade 4, 56% in grade 5, 50% in grade 6, 49% in grade 7, and 48% in grade 8.

The percentage of students who are proficient or advanced in science in 2011 is 55% in grade 4 and 51% in grade 8; for 2012 it is 63% in grade 4 and 51% in grade 8; for 2013 it is 58% in grade 4 and 44% in grade 8; for 2014 it is 53% in grade 4 and 47% in grade 8; for 2015 it is 51% in grade 4 and 42% in grade 8; and for 2016 it is 54% in grade 4 and 42% in grade 8.

The biggest increase in scores took place in seventh grade math, which had a 6.0 percent increase to 49.4 percent of students scoring proficient or advanced. Other increases were seen in fourth grade reading with 65.4 percent of students scoring proficient or advanced, fifth grade math with 56.3 percent of students scoring proficient or advanced.

Balow added: “We can also see in these results that there is work to be done to close achievement gaps for English language learners, students with disabilities, students on free/reduced price lunch, and homeless students. Implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act gives us a really good opportunity to ensure the right resources are getting to those who need them, so that we can create opportunities for every student to keep Wyoming strong.”

At-Risk Student Result Comparisons

Major shifts were made in reading and math content with the 2014 PAWS, making direct comparisons to prior years invalid. Science content standards have not changed, so there have been no changes to the PAWS science test.

The data produced from PAWS results will be used with data from ACT and Aspire results for accountability determinations. ACT and Aspire results will be released in August and school performance ratings will be released early this fall.

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Media Contact:
Kari Eakins, Communications Director
kari.eakins@wyo.gov
307-777-2053

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