Folsom Cordova students continue rising higher in statewide tests
Students in Folsom Cordova schools continued to make progress and, districtwide, perform above state and local averages in English-language arts (ELA) and math, according to new 2016-17 state test results released this month.
Locally, FCUSD experienced the largest year-over-year rates of growth: a 2% increase in the number of students meeting or exceeding state math standards, and a 3% increase in students meeting or exceeding ELA standards.
“Our mission is to provide a pathway to success for every child so they can cross the finish line of graduation prepared to pursue their dreams,” said Superintendent Sarah Koligian, Ed.D. “In recent years our district has invested in a variety of areas that help us better personalize instruction for students, including additional academic coaches, intervention teachers, and mental health professionals who support students’ emotional wellness for success in the classroom.
“We’re confident that as our educators review our student performance data more closely and the District continues to target resources toward our schools’ highest needs, we will keep seeing progress and achievement gaps narrowing,” Koligian said.
About 10,600 students in grades 3-8 and 11 took the state’s Smarter Balanced assessments last spring, part of California’s comprehensive testing program. The scores are one tool educators, students and families can use to better understand how our students are performing and to personalize instruction for all learners. The state is field-testing a new dashboard (www.fcusd.org/dashboard) for the community that measures other indicators of school performance like school climate, suspensions, college and career readiness, and more.
In ELA, 61.3% of students districtwide met or exceeded state standards. Similar growth was seen in math performance, where 51.5% of Folsom Cordova students met or exceeded state standards. Some additional growth highlights:
- Fourth-graders districtwide grew 5% in ELA performance
- Fifth-graders grew 4% in math
- Some 73% of 11th-graders in FCUSD schools are meeting or exceeding ELA standards
- The District’s most vulnerable student populations - including English learners, socioeconomically disadvantaged, and students with disabilities - continued to show steady growth in all areas.
Statewide, 48.6% of students met or exceeded English language arts standards, while 37.6% of students met or exceeded standards in math.
According to the Sacramento Bee, Russell Ranch Elementary, Sandra J Gallardo Elementary, and Theodore Judah Elementary made it to the top of the list of schools that exceeded state standards in math last school year. Folsom Hills Elementary, Oak Chan Elementary, Natoma Station Elementary and Folsom high school are included in the list as well. See the Sacramento Bee article here.
Dig deeper into the results: District and individual school performance can be found on the state’s website: http://caaspp.cde.ca.gov/sb2017/Search
For families: Folsom Cordova families have received their child’s individual score reports. The District encourages families to reach out to their teachers to better understand their child’s performance, and how they can work together to support learning.
For details on how to understand your child’s score reports, parent resources, answers to common questions, and more, please visit www.fcusd.org/testing.