YHS receives STAR test results

Yosemite High School report

 

With California’s emphasis on school accountability, the various tests taken by students are significant not only for the students but also for the school and the state.

Yosemite High School has completed an analysis of the student scores on seven different tests taken during the 2001-02 school year and, according the Principal Steve Raupp, the results are generally positive.

“Our students have done very well on the California High School Exit Exam [CAHSEE],” Mr. Raupp says. “Over 90% of the class of 2004 who were enrolled in YHS last year have passed the English portion of the test and over 76% have passed the math portion.”

Mr. Raupp says the school will be focusing a variety of resources on the students who still must pass the exam.

The class of 2004, this year’s junior class, is the first required to pass the CAHSEE to graduate. This group of students started taking the tests in their freshman year and has had several opportunities to test since then. The average scores for YHS students on the STAR [Standardized Testing and Reporting] were above the 50th percentile in all areas but one. Students in ninth, tenth and eleventh grades take the test.

The national percentage ranking for YHS students is:

Ninth grade: Reading, 50; mathematics, 62; language, 60; science, 52 and social science, 50.

Tenth grade: Reading, 50; mathematics, 53; language, 53; science, 56 and social science, 47.

Eleventh grade: Reading, 50; mathematics, 57; language, 69; science, 60 and social science, 62

This year, for the first time, the students were also tested on the California Standards in several subjects. Last year they were only tested in English/language arts. The state considers those who score proficient or advanced as having met the state standards.

“The scores from last school year are our baseline scores,” Mr. Raupp explained. “We will be analyzing our scores in the future based on what we saw in 2001-02.” He says there is a lot of room for growth in the standards scores.

Students were given the standards tests in English/language arts, general mathematics, high school mathematics, algebra I, geometry, algebra II, history, earth science, biology/life sciences, chemistry and physics.

YHS students take both the Scholastic Aptitude Test [SAT] and the ACT (formerly the American College Testing program) as college entrance tests.

The total SAT score for 2002 for the 81 students testing was 1015 for YHS students, compared to 1013 for California and 1020 for the nation. The YHS score was down from 1065 last year, an all-time high for the school.

YHS students scored 510 in math, compared to 517 for California and 516 for the nation. On the verbal portion of the test, YHS students scored 505 compared to 496 for California and 504 for the nation.

The ACT test includes English, math, reading and scientific reasoning. These are scored separately and then combined for a composite score. The YHS composite score for the 87 students testing was 20.6. The California composite score was 21.4 and the nation’s composite was 20.8.

Students who are enrolled in the International Baccalaureate and Advanced Placement programs at YHS are also tested. The IB test is given internationally, and the AP is given nationally.

A total of 177 students tested in various IB courses in 2001-02 and 73 percent passed the examination. Twenty-five students took the IB higher level English exam and all passed.

Fifty-one students took a total of 55 AP tests and 24 percent passed. The 2001-02 school year was the first time AP classes were offered at YHS. In prior years, students challenged AP tests without benefit of the class.

Mr. Raupp will give a report on the test results at the board of trustees meeting Thursday, September 12. The meeting begins at 6:15 p.m. in the district board room.