DSTP scores improving in Smyrna schools, stable at PCA

Students in Smyrna School District performed generally better on the spring DSTP than students in the state as a whole.

School and district results for the Delaware State Testing Program were released on July 17 for reading, math, and writing exams taken in March. Individual scores were released to students last month.

“I’m pleased with how we did,” said Smyrna School District Superintendent Debbie Wicks. “I’m pleased that we are above the state average in almost every area and that we have shown continuous improvement.”

On the math exam, the percentage of students in Smyrna who met proficiency standards exceeded the percentage of students who did so statewide in every grade except eighth and tenth. In reading, all grades except tenth had more students meeting or exceeding the standards than the statewide average.

Scores in reading and math were strongest at the elementary level, where the percentage of elementary students meeting or exceeding the standard beat the state average in every grade. The DSTP is given to students starting in second grade.

“Our elementaries do so well,” said Wicks. “They always do better than the state average and most of them improve every year.”

The writing exam, however, was a different story. Smyrna scored lower than the state average in every grade except third, where 45 percent of students statewide and 57 percent of students in Smyrna met or exceeded the standard.

Writing scores are generally less consistent than those in reading and math because of the nature of the tests, said DOE spokesman Ron Gough. The writing assessment is a two-part exam, consisting of a standalone prompt to which students respond, and a text-based item, where students area asked to read a passage and write a response.

“The writing is always up and down because of the writing prompt,” Wicks said.  “If you look at the state, it’s all over the place too.”

Smyrna did make improvements over last year’s writing scores, especially at the middle and high school levels. For example, the percentage of this year’s eighth graders meeting proficiency is 75, a 14-percentage-point increase over last year’s eighth graders.

“We are always looking at the data and trying to understand how we are doing and how we can improve,” Wicks said.

Programs such as accelerated reader and accelerated math have boosted scores, and practice DSTP exams have provided opportunities for self-assessment.

“If we found an area we were weak in, then we would work on it,” Wicks said.

Wicks also said she believes that dedicated teachers have played a large role in test scores in Smyrna.

“Many of our teachers have been here quite a few years,” she said. “Many of our teachers live in the community. We have a very stable staff. There is a lot of care and loyalty for our school district and our students. All of that helps us move forward and do well on our tests.”

Providence Creek Academy scores see little change

Scores at Providence Creek Academy charter school in Clayton stayed relatively the same as last year, with some small gains and losses.

Compared to students statewide, PCA is below average in most grades in reading and writing. On the math test, fourth and eighth were the only grades where a higher percentage of students passed the exam at PCA than statewide. In reading and writing, eighth graders were the only class of test-takers who fared better than students statewide.

As with many other schools, writing scores at the Clayton charter school fluctuated.

In third grade, only 21 percent of students met proficiency, compared to 45 percent of students statewide; in eighth, the number jumped to 94 percent, compared to 81 percent statewide.

 “The fluctuation in scores from year to year is largely due to the scores being based on only two items,” Gough said.