Article Body
For immediate release
Contact: Nicole Kranzler, 605-773-3426
SOUTH DAKOTA STUDENTS GET HIGH MARKS IN READING, MATH
State participates for first time in the Nation’s Report Card
WHAT: South Dakota students participated in the state National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) for the first time in 2003.
HOW:
- State NAEP website: http://www.state.sd.us/deca/OCTA/testing/NAEP/index.htm
- NAEP data, snapshots and breakdowns; press releases and news stories
- The Nation's Report Card: Reading and Mathematics 2003 satellite linkup, 12:00-12:15 PM CST & 3:00-3:15 PM CST. Coordinates: Telstar 5, transponder 16. Downlink frequency: 4020. Horizontal polarity, audio 6.2/6.8, C-Band. Contact: Robin Lane, 877-544-8400. Features:
- Video footage of kids, classrooms and the report
- Soundbites about the national results
- Press conference footage
- NAEP Webchat, 1 p.m. CST, http://nces.ed.gov/statchat/
CONTACT: Nicole Kranzler, Public Information Officer, SD Dept. of Education, phone: 605-773-3426, fax: 605-773-6139, nicole.kranzler@state.sd.us
SOUTH DAKOTA STUDENTS GET HIGH MARKS IN READING, MATH
State participates for first time in the Nation’s Report Card
PIERRE - South Dakota reading and math scores ranked high on a national standardized test required by the federal No Child Left Behind law, the U.S. Department of Education announced today. The state participated in the sample for the first time in 2003. The exams measure what fourth and eighth graders know and are able to do in reading and mathematics.
Overall, South Dakota’s eighth graders’ average scores ranked third highest in the nation in reading, and fourth in math. The fourth grade scores in both reading and math ranked sixth. South Dakota and its neighboring states vied with East Coast states and the Dept. of Defense schools for top scores on the report card.
The National Assessment of Educational Progress, also known as “The Nation’s Report Card,” is the nation’s only ongoing survey of student knowledge and skills in core academic subjects. It is also the only assessment that allows states to compare their results with other states, or with results for the rest of the nation.
NAEP tested approximately 2,500 students in approximately 100 schools per state in each grade in reading and mathematics. In South Dakota, over 12,000 students were assessed. Schools are selected to represent the demographic and geographic composition of each state based on variables such as gender, race/ethnicity, National School Lunch Program (NSLP) status, students identified as having a disability and students identified as limited English proficient. Students in the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Schools also participate.
“These scores are good news,” said Secretary of Education Rick Melmer. “Being in the top 10 affirms that public schools in South Dakota do a good job, and that their parents value education. We know our students can compete on the national level.”
Here is a snapshot of South Dakota’s first-ever NAEP scores, all higher than the national averages:
4th Grade South Dakota National Average
Reading 222 216
Math 237 234
8th Grade
Reading 270 261
Math 285 276
*NAEP scores range from 0 to 500.
NAEP 2003 Reading Highlights
Regional snapshot
- Among South Dakota’s border states, South Dakota fourth graders’ average score of 222 is 1 point lower than their Iowa, Minnesota and Montana peers, the same as their North Dakota and Wyoming peers and 1 point higher than their Nebraska peers. NAEP regards all scores within the seven-state area as “not significantly different.”
- In eighth-grade reading, South Dakota ties with Montana and North Dakota with an average score of 270, the best in the seven-state region. This is 2 points higher than their Iowa and Minnesota peers, 3 points higher than their Wyoming peers and 4 points higher than their Nebraska peers.
Students with disabilities
- South Dakota’s students with disabilities have average scores that are higher than the national averages.
- South Dakota’s fourth graders with disabilities average 192 in reading, which is 8 points higher than the national average. Eighth graders with disabilities average 231 in reading, which is 7 points higher than the national average.
Free/reduced-price lunch eligibility
- South Dakota fourth graders eligible for free or reduced-price lunches average 210, which is 20 points lower than the 230 average of the state’s non-eligible fourth graders. Eligible South Dakota eighth graders average 261, which is 13 points lower than the 274 average of the state’s non-eligible eighth graders.
- South Dakota’s eligible fourth graders outscore their national peers by 9 points, while the state’s non-eligible fourth graders outscore them by 1 point. South Dakota’s eligible eighth graders outscore their national peers by 15 points, while the state’s non-eligible eighth graders outscore them by 3 points.
Race/ethnicity
- The only sample sizes sufficient to permit a reliable estimate based on race/ethnicity in South Dakota were White and American Indian.
- White South Dakota fourth graders’ average score of 227 is the same as their national peers; the state’s white eighth graders’ average score of 273 is 3 points higher than their national peers.
- American Indian South Dakota fourth graders’ average score of 197 is 5 points lower than their national peers; the state’s American Indian eighth graders’ average score of 246 is 3 points lower than their national peers.
Gender
- In the fourth and eighth grades, both male and female South Dakota students scored significantly higher than the national averages. Within the state, females scored higher than males in both the fourth and eighth grades, with differences of 5 and 10 points, respectively.
- South Dakota fourth-grade girls’ average score of 225 was 5 points higher than the national female average. Eighth-grade girls’ average score of 275 was 8 points higher than the national female average.
- South Dakota fourth grade boys’ average score of 220 was 7 points higher than the national male average. Eighth-grade boys’ average score of 265 was 9 points higher than the national male average.
NAEP 2003 Mathematics Highlights
Regional snapshot
- Among South Dakota’s border states, South Dakota fourth graders’ average score of 227 is 6 points lower than their Minnesota peers, 4 points lower than their Wyoming peers and 1 point lower than their Iowa and North Dakota peers, but 1 point higher than their Montana and Nebraska peers. NAEP regards Minnesota’s and Wyoming’s scores as “significantly different;” the other scores within the seven-state area are “not significantly different.”
- South Dakota’s eighth graders’ average score of 285 is 6 points lower than Minnesota, which leads the nation in eighth-grade math with a score of 291. South Dakota eighth graders’ average score is 2 points lower than their North Dakota peers and 1 point lower than their Montana peers, but 2 points higher than their Iowa and Wyoming peers and 3 points higher than their Nebraska peers. NAEP regards Minnesota’s and Nebraska’s scores as “significantly different;” the other scores within the seven-state area are “not significantly different.
Students with disabilities
- South Dakota’s students with disabilities’ average scores are higher than the national averages.
- South Dakota’s fourth graders with disabilities average 219 in mathematics, which is 5 points higher than the national average. Eighth graders with disabilities average 246 in mathematics, which is 4 points higher than the national average.
Free/reduced-price lunch eligibility
- South Dakota fourth graders eligible for free or reduced-price lunches average 227, which is 17 points lower than the 244 average of the state’s non-eligible fourth graders. Eligible South Dakota eighth graders averaged 272, which is 19 points lower than the 291 average of the state’s non-eligible eighth graders.
- South Dakota’s eligible fourth graders outscore their national peers by 5 points, while the state’s non-eligible fourth graders’ tie their national peers’ scores at 244. South Dakota’s eligible eighth graders outscore their national peers by 14 points; while the state’s non-eligible eighth graders outscore them by 3 points.
Race/ethnicity
- The only sample sizes sufficient to permit a reliable estimate based on race/ethnicity in South Dakota were White, Hispanic and American Indian at grade four, and White and American Indian at grade eight.
- White South Dakota fourth graders’ average score of 241 is 2 points lower than their national peers. White South Dakota eighth graders’ average score of 288 is 1 point higher than their national peers.
- American Indian South Dakota fourth graders’ average score of 217 is 7 points lower than their national peers. The state’s American Indian eighth graders’ average score of 255 is 10 points lower than their national peers.
- Hispanic South Dakota fourth graders’ average score of 223 is 2 points higher than their national peers. The sample size of Hispanic South Dakota eighth graders was insufficient to permit a reliable estimate.
Gender
- In the fourth and eighth grades, both male and female South Dakota students scored significantly higher than the national averages. Within the state, males scored higher than females in both the fourth and eighth grades, with differences of 4 and 2 points, respectively.
- South Dakota fourth-grade girls’ average score of 235 is 2 points higher than the national female average. Eighth grade girls’ average score of 284 is 9 points higher than the national female average.
- South Dakota fourth-grade boys’ average score of 239 is 4 points higher than the national male average. Eighth-grade boys average score of 286 is 9 points higher than the national male average.
###