Supe: State Tests 'Too Much, Too Soon,' As Scores Drop

Recently released state test scores show a sharp decline in student proficiency levels for Smithtown schools as well as the state with a large increase in the number of students who will need remedial help to bring them back up to the standards of the new Common Core Curriculum.

Smithtown superintendent Anthony Annunziato said in a brief interview after Tuesday's board meeting that the biggest issue would be providing help for the students who are not at state proficiency levels.

“We really need to go through this and I need to hear more from the state in terms of what we can do for remediation,” said Annunziato. “That is the biggest issue. We are doing a lot to make this shift and have been doing a lot to make this shift.” 

In a statement dated Aug. 7, State Education Commissioner John B. King, said that the lower scores do not mean that children are learning less or that teachers and schools are performing worse.

"Proficiency rates – the percentage of students meeting or exceeding the standards – on the new Common Core assessments cannot be compared with last year’s proficiency results since the old scores are from an old test based on the former standards," said King in the statement. "This is a new beginning and starting point that will provide better, clearer information to parents, teachers, and principals about what our children know and are able to do". 

Tests are scored at levels one through four. According to state standards, students marked at level four excel in standards for their grade. Level three indicates a student is proficient in standards for their grade. Students performing at level two are below proficient for their grade and level one students are well below proficient in standards for their grade.

 Grade 3 English

· Level 1: 18.4 percent

· Level 2: 30.4 percent

· Level 3: 44.2 percent

· Level 4: 6.9  percent

Grade 3 Math

· Level 1: 13    percent

· Level 2: 37.5 percent

· Level 3 32.1  percent

· Level 4: 17.4 percent

Grade 4 English

· Level 1: 12.4 percent

· Level 2: 41.7 percent

· Level 3: 32.3 percent

· Level 4: 13.7 percent

Grade 4 Math

· Level 1: 11.9 percent

· Level 2: 37.5 percent

· Level 3: 30.2 percent

· Level 4: 20.3 percent

Grade 5 English

· Level 1: 14.6 percent

· Level 2: 35.4 percent

· Level 3: 34.7 percent

· Level 4: 15.3 percent

Grade 5 Math

· Level 1: 19.5 percent

· Level 2: 36.8 percent

· Level 3: 32    percent

· Level 4: 11.7 percent

Grade 6 English

· Level 1: 11.4 percent

· Level 2: 36.8 percent

· Level 3: 36.6 percent

· Level 4: 25.2 percent

Grade 6 Math

· Level 1: 13.5 percent

· Level 2: 42.7 percent

· Level 3: 30    percent

· Level 4: 13.9 percent

Grade 7 English

· Level 1: 13.5 percent

· Level 2: 38.1 percent

· Level 3: 36.2 percent

· Level 4: 12.2 percent

Grade 7 Math

· Level 1: 13.2 percent

· Level 2: 39.8 percent

· Level 3: 34.5 percent

· Level 4: 12.5 percent

Grade 8 English

· Level 1: 7.8 percent

· Level 2: 38.7 percent

· Level 3: 37.6 percent

· Level 4: 15.9 percent

Grade 8 Math

· Level 1: 11.2 percent

· Level 2: 36.3 percent

· Level 3: 36.8 percent

· Level 4: 15.8 percent

Results listed are from the New York State Education Department