The results of Dallas ISD students from the first administration of the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) tests mirrored statewide increases in reading for 5th grade students and decreases in 8th grade reading scores.
According to preliminary results released today by the Texas Education Agency (TEA), the overall percentage of Dallas ISD 5th grade students that passed the exam this year increased by two percentage points.
The net gain is nearly two percentage points over last year, approximately the same as Texas 5th grade students overall.
The percentage of 8th grade students who passed the Reading test on the first administration declined seven percentage points to 67 percent when compared to last year. Statewide, 8th grade Reading scores dropped by 5 percentage points.
District officials cautioned about reading too much into either result this early in the testing process.
“Overall, we will be receiving results in 16 different testing categories related to the STAAR and EOC exam process this year,” said Deputy Superintendent Ann Smisko. “These results are just the first administration of these particular tests and the very beginning of helping us assess how our students and schools are performing. There will be much more to review in the weeks and months ahead.”
Students who did not pass the first administration of the Reading test will have two additional opportunities to take it on May 12 and June 23.
“Obviously, we would like to see more improvement in student performance,” said Smisko. “We will be reviewing specific test objectives to determine where we can enhance instruction.”
