The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

Statewide standardized academic tests administered in May show that last year's Sisters High School 10th graders are regional champions in math problem-solving, and close runners-up in English writing.

In both tested subjects, local sophomores handily bested state averages.

Oregon Department of Education results released last week show that 49 percent of Sisters' 10th graders met or exceeded the math standard, compared to 42 percent statewide. Regionally, only Redmond, scoring at 44 percent, was competitive with Sisters.

Twice as many Sisters as Redmond students exceeded the state standard, 16 versus 8 percent, respectively.

In writing, the race was closer. Sisters sophomores meeting or exceeding the performance standards were inched out for the gold by their Culver peers, 54 to 53 percent. In the measure of surpassing the state benchmark, however, it wasn't even close between the two schools -- Sisters test takers prevailed 4 to 0 (percent). Additionally, the local overall "meet and beat" score of 54 percent exceeded the state norm by 9 points.

The results also contain a "Conditionally Meets" category which, according to Sisters School District Curriculum Coordinator Lora Nordquist, includes students that came within several points of meeting the standard.

After the test results are reported, Nordquist explained, teachers examine classroom work samples (three in writing, two in math) of these students. If teachers determine the work demonstrates sufficient competency, the students' results are raised to the "Meets Standard" category.

Students whose work does not qualify for this promotion do not qualify to receive the Certificate of Initial Mastery (CIM).

Though the results show that, indeed, Sisters students match up very well with their regional and statewide peers, they also show large numbers of students are not meeting the standards.

In writing, 46 percent of tested Sisters students failed to meet the standards.

However, Nordquist pointed out, 34 percent conditionally met them.

In other words, only 12 percent failed outright, compared to a 23 percent failure rate statewide.

"In English writing, almost all of those (conditional) students' work samples will allow the teacher to determine the students met the standard," she said. As a result, Nordquist prefers to add the conditional achievers to the "meet and beat" group, which raises the total of local student achievers to 87 percent.

The math results, on the other hand, provide less room for work sample improvement. Though 51 percent of Sisters' students failed to meet the standard, only four percent of that number met it conditionally.

"For some time, I've been concerned that the math standard of achievement has been set too high," Nordquist said.

According to Nordquist, continuing changes will bring steady future improvement.

"Since Steve (School Superintendent Steve Swisher) came, we have been aligning our curriculum and texts to state standards through our Consolidated District Improvement Plan," she said.

The class of 2002 is only the second group of Oregon sophomores to take the five-part tests.

Other subjects in the CIM standards, multiple-choice math, reading, and science, were given earlier in the last school year.

Over the next seven years, arts, second languages, social sciences, and physical education will be phased into the CIM program. Presently, 10th graders meeting all five standards are eligible for the certificate.

A Certificate of Advanced Mastery (CAM) for seniors is scheduled to begin, statewide, in 2004.