(Posted on 09/10/2008)
More Horry County Schools’ students met and exceeded state academic standards in 2008, according to data released by the South Carolina Department of Education for the Palmetto Achievement Challenge Test administered last May. District students showed improvements in 12 of 24 scoring categories among students meeting state standards and in 21 of 24 categories among students scoring at higher levels. Student performance is higher than the state average in all grades and all subject areas for students meeting and exceeding state-level standards.
Nearly 15,000 district students in grades 3-8 were tested last spring in English/language arts, mathematics, science and social studies. Scoring levels are Below Basic, Basic, Proficient and Advanced. The 2008 PACT results are from the last administration of the test which has been in place since 1999. Next spring, a new standardized testing system—the Palmetto Assessment of State Standards (PASS) will feature more detailed information on individual students and a faster turnaround on score reporting.
In 12 of 24 categories, greater percentages of students met state standards by scoring Basic or above. Gains were made in three out of six grade levels in math, English/language arts, science and social studies. Seventh grade students made gains in every subject area tested. At the state level, students made gains in 16 out of 24 categories.
The percentage of district students scoring Proficient and Advanced showed gains in 21 out of 24 categories. Gains were made in every grade among students scoring Proficient and Advanced in social studies and in five out of six grades in math, English language arts and science. Students in seventh and eighth grades made gains in all four subject areas. At the State level, gains were made in all 24 categories.
Independent national research studies have shown that PACT's scoring requirements are higher than annual accountability tests in other states. Those studies indicated that a PACT score of Basic, for example, might be equivalent to a score of Proficient in other states.
Students must score Basic, Proficient or Advanced to meet South Carolina’s requirements. Students who score Below Basic did not meet the minimum expectations for mastering South Carolina's academic standards.
Percentages of students scoring Proficient or above on PACT English language arts and math are used to determine Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) school results required by the federal No Child Left Behind Act.
PACT scores also are key components in South Carolina's annual School Report Cards that rate elementary and middle schools as Excellent, Good, Average, Below Average or Unsatisfactory. Under the Education Accountability Act of 1998, the state provides specialized assistance to schools and districts with Unsatisfactory or Below Average ratings. High schools are rated by a formula that uses high school exit exam scores, end-of-course tests scores and graduation rates.
Summary of Horry County Schools' 2008 PACT results:
Grade 3
English Language Arts - The percentage of students scoring at the Basic Level or above increased from 93.5 to 94.5 percent; 7.8 points above the state percentage of 86.7; the percentage of students scoring Proficient and Advanced increased from 69 to 72.1 percent, 15.5 points above the state percentage of 56.6;
Mathematics - The percentage of students scoring at the Basic Level or above decreased from 86.1 to 84.9 percent; 7.7 points above the state percentage of 77.2; the percentage of students scoring Proficient and Advanced decreased from 44 to 43.8 percent, 10.8 points above the state percentage of 33;
Science - The percentage of students scoring at the Basic Level or above increased from 68.8 to 76 percent; 4.9 points above the state percentage of 71.1; the percentage of students scoring Proficient and Advanced increased from 34.1 to 44.3 percent, 6.3 points above the state percentage of 38;
Social Studies - The percentage of students scoring at the Basic Level or above increased from 86.6 to 87.6 percent; 3.7 points above the state percentage of 83.9; the percentage of students scoring Proficient and Advanced increased from 48.4 to 52.3 percent, 9.6 points above the state percentage of 42.7.
Grade 4
English Language Arts - The percentage of students scoring at the Basic Level or above decreased from 90.9 to 89.3 percent; 8.5 points above the state percentage of 80.8; the percentage of students scoring Proficient and Advanced increased from 54.7 to 58 percent, 12.5 points above the state percentage of 45.5;
Mathematics - The percentage of students scoring at the Basic Level or above increased from 86.1 to 88.4 percent; 9.4 points above the state percentage of 79 ; the percentage of students scoring Proficient and Advanced increased from 55.3 to 57.1 percent, 15.2 points above the state percentage of 41.9;
Science - The percentage of students scoring at the Basic Level or above increased from 67.8 to 72 percent; 3.1 points above the state percentage of 68.9; the percentage of students scoring Proficient and Advanced increased from 37.1 to 39.2 percent, 2.4 points above the state percentage of 36.8;
Social Studies - The percentage of students scoring at the Basic Level or above increased from 75 to 82.2 percent; 5.9 points above the state percentage of 76.3; the percentage of students scoring Proficient and Advanced increased from 36.4 to 47.7 percent, 8.9 points above the state percentage of 38.8;
Grade 5
English Language Arts - The percentage of students scoring at the Basic Level or above decreased from 86 to 85.8 percent; 8.2 points above the state percentage of 77.6; the percentage of students scoring Proficient and Advanced decreased from 42.8 to 41.1 percent, 8.8 points above the state percentage of 32.3;
Mathematics - The percentage of students scoring at the Basic Level or above increased 84.9 to 86.7 percent; 8.7 points above the state percentage of 78; the percentage of students scoring Proficient and Advanced increased from 43.8 to 53.1 percent, 14.8 points above the state percentage of 38.3;
Science - The percentage of students scoring at the Basic Level or above decreased from 63.7 to 63.2 percent; 1.8 points above the state percentage of 61.4; the percentage of students scoring Proficient and Advanced increased from 30.4 to 37 percent, 2.8 points above the state percentage of 34.2;
Social Studies - The percentage of students scoring at the Basic Level or above decreased from 68.9 to 67.3 percent; one point above the state percentage of 66.3 the percentage of students scoring Proficient and Advanced increased from 29.6 to 35.7 percent, 2.1 points above the state percentage of 33.6;
Grade 6
English Language Arts - The percentage of students scoring at the Basic Level or above increased from 83.9 to 84.9 percent; 10.1 points above the state percentage of 74.8; the percentage of students scoring Proficient and Advanced increased 45.1 to 47.9 percent, 11.9 points above the state percentage of 36;
Mathematics - The percentage of students scoring at the Basic Level or above decreased from 89.1 to 86.2 percent; 10.5 points above the state percentage of 75.7; the percentage of students scoring Proficient and Advanced increased from 54.7 to 55.4 percent, 14.5 points above the state percentage of 40.9;
Science - The percentage of students scoring at the Basic Level or above decreased from 66.7 to 57 percent; one-half of a point above the state percentage of 56.5; the percentage of students scoring Proficient and Advanced decreased from 38.1 to 35.9 percent, 1.2 points above the state percentage of 34.7;
Social Studies - The percentage of students scoring at the Basic Level or above decreased from 81 to 80.3 percent; 2.5 points above the state percentage of 77.8; the percentage of students scoring Proficient and Advanced increased from 39.4 to 46 percent, 2.2 points above the state percentage of 43.8;
Grade 7
English Language Arts - The percentage of students scoring at the Basic Level or above increased from 79.3 to 83 percent; 10 points above the state percentage of 73; the percentage of students scoring Proficient and Advanced increased from 38.7 to 42.2 percent, 12.8 points above the state percentage of 29.4;
Mathematics - The percentage of students scoring at the Basic Level or above increased from 86.1 to 87.3 percent; 9.5 points above the state percentage of 77.8; the percentage of students scoring Proficient and Advanced increased from 43.2 to 47 percent, 14 points above the state percentage of 33;
Science - The percentage of students scoring at the Basic Level or above increased from 69.7 to 76 percent; 6.2 points above the state percentage of 69.8; the percentage of students scoring Proficient and Advanced increased from 38.6 to 43 percent, 8.9 points above the state percentage of 34.1;
Social Studies - The percentage of students scoring at the Basic Level or above increased from 62.4 to 65.9 percent; 9.5 points above the state percentage of 56.4; the percentage of students scoring Proficient and Advanced increased from 27.3 to 33.7 percent, 8.4 points above the state percentage of 25.3;
Grade 8
English Language Arts - The percentage of students scoring at the Basic Level or above decreased from 81.5 to 79.7 percent; 8.7 points above the state percentage of 71; the percentage of students scoring Proficient and Advanced increased from 32.7 to 35.2 percent, 7.3 points above the state percentage of 27.9;
Mathematics - The percentage of students scoring at the Basic Level or above decreased from 78.1 to 77.9 percent; 8.2 points above the state percentage of 69.7; the percentage of students scoring Proficient and Advanced increased from 27.1 to 28.3 percent, 7.5 points above the state percentage of 20.8;
Science - The percentage of students scoring at the Basic Level or above decreased from 69 to 68.9 percent; 5.5 points above the state percentage of 63.4; the percentage of students scoring Proficient and Advanced increased from 30.3 to 36.1 percent, 3.8 points above the state percentage of 32.3;
Social Studies - The percentage of students decreased from 72.6 to 71.7 percent; three points above the state percentage of 68.7; the percentage of students scoring Proficient and Advanced increased from 22.2 to 23.7 percent, 2.8 points above the state percentage of 20.9.
To see PACT scores for individual schools as well as scores for the district, visit http://ed.sc.gov/topics/assessment/scores/pact/2008/