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"The District is analyzing the results, and initial review suggests that we performed in a manner consistent with our comparable schools," district officials said in an emailed statement. "We can assure the community that our students are being educated based on the new standards."
According to the state’s assessment tests, given to students in third- to eighth-grade, 41 percent of Westchester students were at grade level in ELA and 40 percent of county students were at grade level in math. The state results were released last week with most schools' averages coming in below previous years on the exams.
The state results for Katonah-Lewisboro and Westchester schools showed the following percentages:
Grade Three – 64.8 percent of students met or exceeded proficiency for their grade in ELA, and 64.7 percent met or exceeded proficiency for their grade in math. The Westchester County average was 40.6 percent for ELA and 41.2 percent for math.
Grade Four – 63.8 percent of students met or exceeded proficiency for their grade in ELA, and 64.5 percent met or exceeded proficiency for their grade in math. The Westchester County average was 41.6 percent for ELA and 46.1 percent for math.
Grade Five – 63.5 percent of students met or exceeded proficiency for their grade in ELA, and 61.8 percent met or exceeded proficiency for their grade in math. The Westchester County average was 41 percent for ELA and 39.4 percent for math.
Grade Six – 63 percent of students met or exceeded proficiency for their grade in ELA, and 71.7 percent in math. The Westchester County average was 46.6 percent for ELA and 40.6 percent for math.
Grade Seven – 56.6 percent of students met or exceeded proficiency for their grade in ELA, and 51.9 percent met or exceeded proficiency for their grade in math. The Westchester County average was 41.1 percent for ELA and 37.3 percent for math.
Grade Eight – 73 percent of students met or exceeded proficiency for their grade in ELA, and 67.1 percent met or exceeded proficiency for their grade in math. The Westchester County average was 44.2 percent for ELA and 37 percent for math.
Statewide results for New York students in grades three to eight showed that 31.1 percent of students in grade three to eight met or exceeded the ELA proficiency standard, and 31 percent met or exceeded the math proficiency standard.
The lower results do not reflect a decrease in performance for schools or students, but rather a raising of standards to reflect college and career readiness, according to state Education Commissioner John B. King Jr.
"I understand these scores are sobering for parents, teachers, and principals. It's frustrating to see our children struggle,” King said in the release. “But we can't allow ourselves to be paralyzed by frustration; we must be energized by this opportunity. The results we've announced today are not a critique of past efforts; they're a new starting point on a roadmap to future success.”
The state said it does not intend to identify any new “Focus Districts” or “Priority schools” based on the 2012-13 assessment results.
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