Grades 3-8 improve scores in St. Martin Parish

Test scores released May 27 by the state Department of Education show that public school students in St. Martin Parish increased two points in percentage ranking.
In a news release St. Martin Superintendent Dr. Lottie Beebe praised the work of students, teachers, administrators, support employees, staff and parents for the improvement.
Students in grades 3 through 8 took revised LEAP and iLEAP tests earlier this spring. Dr. Beebe explained that this year’s tests were more rigorous and redesigned in anticipation of the implementation of the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) which goes into effect in the spring of 2015.
Dr. Beebe said the parish’s biggest gains were in 4th grade English/Language Arts (ELA) with an increase of 23 percentage points. Students in grade 8 showed in increase of 10 points in ELA.
All grade levels increased in math and social studies.
“Preliminary school performance score (SPS) calculations based strictly on test scores reveal that seven of our 11 schools have shown gains,” Beebe said in the release. “More importantly, these preliminary results indicate the St. Martin public school system will have no school labeled as failing (F).
The actual SPS will not be finalized until program points earned and other criteria are released at a later date.
“I want to reiterate the tests administered this Spring had increased rigor,” Beebe said. “Our ability to make gains shows that our school district is moving in the right direction. I want to thank our educators, students and support personnel for their desire for educational excellence and encourage them to continue to strive for increases in student achievement.”