Renton Students Improve WASL Scores

August 31, 2005 — Renton School District’s fourth, seventh and 10th grade students showed improvement on nearly every section of the 2005 Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL).

Elementary students district-wide made gains in reading, writing and science. Student results in middle school show increases in the percent meeting standard in reading, mathematics and writing. High school students made gains in all areas of the WASL. Only scores in fourth grade math and eighth grade science declined in 2005.

Although many schools saw scores increase, some made significant, double-digit gains.

Those include, at the elementary level:

At middle schools:

At high schools:

Superintendent Dolores Gibbons is pleased with the overall gains made by students and the hard work and dedication shown by teachers, staff and parents to prepare students for success. “This work we do is so important, now more than ever,” Superintendent Gibbons said. “Our students, like those across the U.S., are competing on a global level for jobs at all ends of the economic spectrum. We need to continue to offer quality curricula and challenge our students to think and reason, while instilling in them a good work ethic.”

A look at WASL

This past spring, more than 375,000 students state-wide took at least one section of the WASL. Students in grades four, seven and 10 take the WASL in reading, mathematics and writing. Grade 10 students also take a science WASL, as do those in grades five and eight.

The assessment is designed to measure how well students are learning the state’s academic standards in reading, mathematics, writing and science. These standards were created by a diverse group of Washington educators and citizens in the mid-1990s and reflect the skills and knowledge students need in order to be successful as adults.

The WASL is made up of multiple-choice, short-answer and extended-response questions. Scores are reported in one of four levels, with a “one” indicating little or no understanding at all and a “four” indicating the highest level of skill and knowledge in a subject. A student earning a level three or four is “meeting standard.”

Class of 2008

Results at the high school level are encouraging. If the pattern holds, the district and state could see more 10th grade students meeting standard on the reading, math and writing sections of the WASL: a new graduation requirement for this year’s incoming class of sophomores. (Who have a mere 1,012 days until graduation.) Additionally, this year’s 10th graders will be the first in Washington required to meet other new graduation requirements: crafting a student plan for their post-high school goals; successfully completing courses to meet academic standards; designing a culminating project; as well as continuing to maintain good grades in challenging high school courses.

As part of the state’s plan to give students a fair chance to earn their diploma, the Legislature funded voluntary retakes this year for 11th grade students. More than 5,600 students took advantage of the opportunity this spring. Many students who didn't meet standard in 2004 and retook those same subjects in 2005 generally improved their scores.

At a recent Renton Chamber of Commerce event to welcome new teachers to the Renton School District, Terry Bergeson, the state’s Superintendent of Public Instruction said, “We must keep WASL scores in proper perspective so the results become less about ‘the test’ and more about helping our students become prepared for the very real challenges they will face once they leave our schools.”

Renton Superintendent Dolores Gibbons added, “We have the pieces in place to achieve success: quality teachers, dedicated staff and parents, positive relationships with our unions, a knowledgeable School Board, a community committed to education, and above all, students who are up to and accept the challenge. We’re ready, and I’m confident we’ll continue to move ahead.”

For more results of the 2005 WASL and the Washington Alternate Assessment System visit:http://reportcard.ospi.k12.wa.us/.