During the January 19th Board Of Education (BOE) meeting had James Salvo, the Director of Curriculum and Instruction, give a presentation on the results of last school year’s PARC testing. PARCC stands for Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers and the rigorous standardized test replaced the previous NJ ASK (New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge) test last year. Both experienced their share of controversy when they were introduced with claims that standardized testing does not adequately gauge a student’s learning experience nor a teacher’s effectiveness in instruction.
PARCC is separated into two major sections (English Language Arts & Math) and five levels:
- LEVEL 1: Did Not Yet Meet Grade-Level Expectations
- LEVEL 2: Partially Met Grade-Level Expectations
- LEVEL 3: Approached Grade-Level Expectations
- LEVEL 4: Met Grade-Level Expectations
- LEVEL 5: Exceeded Grade-Level Expectations
Results provided during the presentation by Mr. Salvo show that less than 50% of school district students met or exceed expectations with the 3rd grade having the highest percentage of students – at 42% – who met or exceeded expectations.
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 & 5 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 3 | 8.2% | 18.5% | 30.8% | 38.4% | 4.1% | 42.5% |
| Grade 4 | 6.1% | 25.0% | 31.1% | 33.8% | 4.1% | 37.9% |
| Grade 5 | 2.0% | 21.3% | 42.0% | 34.0% | 0.7% | 34.7% |
| Grade 6 | 1.5% | 20.1% | 38.8% | 35.1% | 4.5% | 38.6% |
| Grade 7 | 3.7% | 20.9% | 37.4% | 36.8% | 1.2% | 38.0% |
| Grade 8 | 15.2% | 24.2% | 36.0% | 24.0% | 0.0% | 24.0% |
| Algebra | 5.5% | 37.2% | 22.1% | 32.4% | 2.8% | 35.2% |
| Geometry | 14.2% | 58.1% | 23.1% | 4.5% | 0.0% | 4.4% |
| Algebra II | 34.4% | 36.1% | 20.5% | 9.0% | 0.0% | 9.0% |
The PARCC scores are subdivided for each of the five schools in the district to provide insight into how each performed. What may surprise some with regard to the elementary schools is that only EJF-Aldene had scores that exceeded expectations in each grade. Middle school students who took the Algebra I test almost all exceeded expectation.
| Grade 3 | 11.6% | 9.3% | 37.2% | 34.9% | 7.0% | 41.9% |
| Grade 4 | 2.2% | 24.4% | 33.3% | 35.6% | 4.4% | 40.0% |
| Grade 5 | 1.9% | 13.2% | 45.3% | 37.7% | 1.9% | 39.6% |
| Grade 3 | 4.2% | 20.8% | 41.7% | 33.3% | 0.0% | 33.3% |
| Grade 4 | 4.9% | 17.1% | 31.7% | 36.6% | 9.8% | 46.4% |
| Grade 5 | 4.5% | 43.2% | 27.3% | 25.0% | 0.0% | 25.0% |
| Grade 3 | 9.1% | 23.6% | 16.4% | 45.5% | 5.5% | 51.0% |
| Grade 4 | 9.7% | 30.6% | 29.0% | 30.6% | 0.0% | 30.6% |
| Grade 5 | 0.0% | 11.3% | 50.9% | 37.7% | 0.0% | 37.7% |
| Grade 6 | 1.5% | 20.1% | 38.8% | 35.1% | 4.5% | 39.6% |
| Grade 7 | 3.7% | 20.9% | 37.4% | 36.8% | 1.2% | 38.0% |
| Grade 8 | 15.2% | 24.8% | 36.0% | 24.0% | 0.0% | 24.0% |
| Algebra I | 0.0% | 0.0% | 4.5% | 86.4% | 9.1% | 95.5% |
| Algebra I | 7.9% | 53.5% | 29.7% | 8.9% | 0.0% | 8.9% |
| Geometry | 14.2% | 58.2% | 23.1% | 4.5% | 0.0% | 4.5% |
| Algebra II | 34.4% | 36.1% | 20.5% | 9.0% | 0.0% | 9.0% |
These scores were compared with the rest of New Jersey and also all participating PARCC schools. When compared to the average percentage of PARCC scoring for New Jersey, Roselle Park was below the state average with the exception of the 7th and 8th grades.
| Grade 3 | |||
| Grade 4 | |||
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| Algebra | |||
| Geometry | |||
| Algebra II |
The average overall scores were also provided with neither Roselle Park, New Jersey, or any of the participating PARCC schools reaching the passing score of 750.
| Grade 3 | |||
| Grade 4 | |||
| Grade 5 | |||
| Grade 6 | |||
| Grade 7 | |||
| Grade 8 | |||
| Algebra I | |||
| Geometry | |||
| Algebra II |
PARCC scores are not currently used to measure teachers during their evaluations. Even though PARCC scores are not a requirement in order for students to graduate, it can be used beneficially since high school seniors have to get a passing score in one of four standardized tests in order to be able to graduate. The tests are ACT (American College Test), ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery), PARCC, and SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test). RPSD School Superintendent Pedro Garrido stated that this year’s scores are to be considered a baseline upon which future scores will be gauged against in order to measure progress or address any areas of concern.