Marshall High and other turnaround high schools, in Chicago and nationally, face a thorny dilemma. Higher-performing students are being siphoned off through competition, driving down enrollment and raising tough policy questions about the future of these schools.
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How'd Your School Do? [updated]
By: Alexander Russo / July 12, 2009
Want
to know how your school did on the preliminary 2009 ISATs? Â Sure, you
do.Â
Got a school you love to hate?  Of course there is. [Hint: it
might be a charter school.]
So here's a spreadsheet sent to me from CPS that you can use to look up anyone you want (isat2009.xls). There's also a version on the CPS website that may be slightly different (here). [Yes, charters are in both.]
Have fun. Use at your own risk. Find anything interesting or cool, let us know.
UPDATE: In response to a question in the comments section, a kind reader sent in this document showing the cut scores for the various tests and grade levels. here (PDF)
How'd Your School Do? [updated]
the REA site has two versions of the school by school scores, one with ELLs and the other without. check the original post and click on the link and it should be there
How'd Your School Do? [updated]
the schools have them and I thought they were released with the CPS press on how well CPS did on ISAT...
How'd Your School Do? [updated]
Those scores aren't posted yet by school.
How'd Your School Do? [updated]
ELLs WERE to be tested==all ELLS, so now what are the numbers with ELLs tested on ISAT for 3rd grade?
Did tomayp test ALL students as required I think is the question from the first pdf.
How'd Your School Do? [updated]
Um, there are plenty of other schools who have the same issue in 3rd grade. Typically during early year language acquisition you have more students who can't read and write English, so their scores are excluded in this measure. As you get older and acquire English, more are tested and transition out of ELL. That's why it's not as big an issue in upper elementary grades.
Off the top of my head, around Tamayo (and not):
Telpochcalli, 3rd grade enrollment 31, "tested" 14
Sawyer, 3rd grade enrollment, 258, tested 188
Nightengale, 3rd grade enrollment 155, tested 92
Talman, 3rd grade enrollment, 29, tested 24
Sandoval, 3rd grade enrollment, 161, tested 128.
How'd Your School Do? [updated]
Folks,
As I mentioned before, I am not at all commenting on UNO. I was just pointing out that the scores can be tricky because of all sorts of things that go into creating those prelim reports. Often times there are major differences between prelim and final scores at individual schools.
Also, as I mentioned, the Tribune checks the "invalid exam" issue every year to see if schools are tossing out lots of scores when they should not be doing so. We will check it again this year. You all raise good questions.
thanks,
Stephanie Banchero
How'd Your School Do? [updated]
and we will see little change in them. As for ELLs, then why are not the other schools showing reduction in numbers?
If UNO has this in 3 rd grade, why not other grades? Why not other schools?
How'd Your School Do? [updated]
My guess is that the scores that were reported did not include ELLs -- REA publishes a report that includes scores for ELLs and one that doesn't. CPS grades schools on non-ELL scores, so I'm guessing that's what caused the discrepancy here. Plus, like Stephanie said, things are still preliminary.
How'd Your School Do? [updated]
so a whole bunch of 3rd graders did not answer enough questions on ISAT - no score for them? Why did they not answer enough questions? How many questions is enough questions? Is this something that all schools should know--make sure your students do not answer enough question, but at least take the test and then they will NOT count against you. Come on SB, you must smell something rotten here.
How'd Your School Do? [updated]
I just checked with state. Still true that tests can be invalidated if student doesn't answer enough questions.
Stephanie Banchero
How'd Your School Do? [updated]
the rules have changes-esp. when it comes to ELL students. ALL ISAT student tests count, cut score or not, ELL learner or not, IEP or not, purposely answered test questions wrong or not, drew faces in the bubbles or not.
How'd Your School Do? [updated]
Sorry. I should have been more specific.
Unless the rules have changed in the last year, tests can still be considered "invalid" for a few reasons. If students, for example, don't answer enough questions on a specific section of the exam, it can be invalidated.
The Tribune has done a story on this pretty much every year.
Stephanie Banchero
How'd Your School Do? [updated]
thanks to a reader for sending in the cut scores for the various tests and grade levels, which is updated in the post above.
this was in response to those who wanted to see how hard or easy the tests are, based on how many you have to get right.
-- alexander
How'd Your School Do?
... with a son in a gifted Kindergarten program:
http://cpsobsessed.com/2009/07/11/year-end-thoughts-on-cps-kindergarten/
How'd Your School Do?
I believe Alexander was pointing out his schools because there had been a recent thread about the value of various schools, including opinions about CSU. He wasn't questioning the value of Botana's education.
The Duncan Diaspora
Why did you find the fact that Botana did undergraduate and graduate work at Chicago State "interesting"? Is it because most the the teachers that have come from that school are by far more effective than those who graduate from some of Illinois' more "elite" schools? I just wondered
How'd Your School Do?
the successful school CPS closed is de la Cruz Academy and Andersen.
How'd Your School Do?
"Sometimes, tests are considered "not valid." This happens if a kid scribbles all over the exam... The trick is that these tests don't count. " ISAT states that a child can draw all over the test, can scribble, can purposely answer every answer wrong AND the test still counts--Yes, those are the ISDAT rules --ask them. We tried to do this for 1 student legit, he drew happy faces in each bubble--ISBE's answer: NO- the test counts. (Brought down our school scores too.) A school can never invalidate an ISAT exam and no matter what, ISAT will not do it either--so UNO needs to be investigated.
How'd Your School Do?
Not all schools were closed to test scores...some were called "underutilized" due to lower enrollment. Underutilized because they opened charters in the neighborhood, underutilized because the demographics of the neighborhood were changing (READ: gentrification).
Scores and enrollment numbers are merely the tools CPS uses to justify the privatization of the system via Ren2010
How'd Your School Do?
re: UNO test scores.
I can't comment specifically on the test scores at this school, but wanted to make a few points (some of which already have been made.)
1) Don't forget that schools must test 95% of their students or they fail under NCLB. So even if all kids who took the test in a school got 100% on the exam, the school would fail NCLB if they tested less than 95% of their kids.
2) These scores are preliminary so there very well could be some major mistakes. And those of you have followed state testing, know there are always mistakes!
3) Sometimes, tests are considered "not valid." This happens if a kid scribbles all over the exam, for example. The trick is that these tests don't count. So if 15 kids don't complete the exam and scribble all over it, for example, they would not be counted as "failed" tests. They simply would not be counted at all. Every year the Tribune does an analysis of state test scores to see if schools are "throwing out" tons of tests scores based on "invalid" exams. We will look into again this year.
I am not suggesting that any of these things are taking place at UNO but just wanted to raise a few points that might explain seemingly weird test data.
Thanks
Stephanie Banchero
Chicago Tribune
Education Reporter
How'd Your School Do?
If scores were going up, why was the school closed?
How'd Your School Do?
Please tell me what CPS school had gym 4 days a week, no suspensions, etc.
This school sounds wonderful, why did they close the school?
How'd Your School Do?
if you have a child in a school, please visit it and ask questions.
At OUR SCHOOL, WE HAD great field trips tied to teaching and learning, used books-fiction/non-fiction to create and teach lessons, had students use authentic writing on topics that concerned and interested them, surveyed them for their opinions on what they liked to learn about, gave them their test scores with EVERY test throughout the year and counseled them on what scores meant, used real life math and science tied to a great curriculum, all involved with after school, no suspensions all year, improved attendance, gym 4 days a week, NO book test prep and access to laptops where they tested themselves a few days per week, with a program designed to support their individual learning tied to the IL standards. Scores went up and CPS closed the school in June. That part is sad, but we earned and learned from our success.
How'd Your School Do?
Thanks for the clarification. I will try to do a better job in the future of deciding whether it is the employer or the employee that is at fault. Still, my questions remain unanswered.
How'd Your School Do?
"And the majority of the posts on this blog are about the adult pressures and adult behaviors..."
Read in detail from the adults here who are teachers. We have a passion for the children, for their learning, for their safety and for their success. This may look to you as pressure/behavior, but it is the behavior of our employer who does NOT put children first and this is why there are complaints. Too many teacher have to fight for every little thing for thsie students and whenyou have a class of 31,it is overwhelming. There is little support by CPS. The system is politicized, this is distasteful and angers many teachers. So we express it here. Do NOT think we are for ourselves. We work for the children and protect them from the system that does not support them.
How'd Your School Do?
So is teaching in a CPS school all about preparing the children for the tests? How is it done? What are the tools that are used that are not books, research, field experiences and real life application? I truly am trying to understand what is going on in the majority of CPS classrooms. It seems so foreign from life and humanity. And the majority of the posts on this blog are about the adult pressures and adult behaviors. Where are the children in this education equation?
How'd Your School Do?
recommended to you, that esp. if your child's class has 24 or more students, you go in and volunteer to help and get other parents to do the same. In decades of teacher PD I have attended, I watch great vidoes of what you suggest being practiced in (mostly white student dominated) highly functional learning classrooms. NEVER have I see more than 20 students in these classrooms AND, I count the desk and chairs too. What you decribe is what I too want for my instructional program, but it is impossible with 31 students who also have social and learning issues.
How'd Your School Do?
The point that I was trying to make is that the things that I listed are the substance of a real education. The data that is derived from test scores is essentially just that, data. The data is easier to talk about, digest and criticize, but the children are metabolizing what is really put in front of them. I would like to see comparisons between schools, grades within a school and the entire city on who reads the most relevant material for a particular age of childhood, who shows how to use and apply the basic skills taught to real life situations, who goes on the most educationally appropriate field trips. It wouldn't be hard to collect this information, though self reports from teachers oftentimes prove to be more wish filled fantasy than what really happens. The difference would be that this would be qualitative versus quantitative research, and that involves more reflective and thoughtful responses from the researchers themselves.
How'd Your School Do?
Parent: Do you not get a Friday folder of work completed or a syllabus?
How'd Your School Do?
I would like to know how my school did from a different perspective. What novels were read at each grade level? What field trips were taken and how did they apply to knowledge gained in the classroom pre and post trip? What stories, myths, fairy tales and parables were told to and discussed with the children? What research strategies were presented to the children and what type of research was actually done? How was the math that was learned used in real life experiences? Were the children given instruction on how to think, observe, reflect, and process information? How was this actually done?
How many times did the children have the opportunity to question? Hourly,daily, weekly, monthly, yearly? This would make a great data-driven research project. Any takers?
How'd Your School Do?
Just the facts--what OTHER school tested 14 of 30 inone grade? ALL Scores reported for ALL schools, have either ELL or not. UNO Tomayo is no different. Concern is that in the charters, ANYONE can be a director so they feel (or do not know better) that they do not have to follow rules, esp. testing rules. There is more, but this warrants a must look.
How'd Your School Do?
You can check a spreadsheet that only has exceeds by school for the 2009 preliminary scores at the CPS REA website.
http://research.cps.k12.il.us/cps/accountweb/Reports/allschools.html
How'd Your School Do?
Charter scores are BS.
Let then take in MCLB students.
If charters are soooooooooo good , then let them take the toughest students.
Won't happen
How'd Your School Do?
Exactly who would be responsible for investigating the possibility of cheatng at UNO--at a charter school?
AND, who would have the guts to tell the truth about it, report about it, when UNO has such strong ties and $ to Daley.
How'd Your School Do?
"Before you come up with lame conspiracy's get your facts."
There is no conspiracy here. Just the facts--what OTHER school tested 14 of 30 inone grade? ALL Scores reported for ALL schools, have either ELL or not. UNO Tomayo is no different. Concern is that in the charters, ANYONE can be a director so they feel (or do not know better) that they do not have to follow rules, esp. testing rules. There is more, but this warrants a must look.
How'd Your School Do?
If you want to figure out the Scores need to Meet the state standards go to the states website and look up the 2009 cut scores: Its not just magically made up
http://www.isbe.state.il.us/assessment/pdfs/cut_points_09.pdf
If UNO lied about the number of kids taking the test that will also hurt them. There were 30 third graders last year at UNO. So UNO needs to account for them or be at risk of not meeting AYP. No school wants that. These are preliminary numbers is the Chicago School district reporting ELL results they excluded them last year maybe the same was done this year. ISBE will not exclude those kids. Before you come up with lame conspiracy's get your facts.
By the way the percentiles do not reflect the full test only the standard scores do. Percentiles results in reading and math are the result of how the test takers did in the multiple choice portion of this test. The SAT10.
How'd Your School Do?
31.7 / 38.7
It is there, not in alpha order (go figure.)
How'd Your School Do?
if a cps neighborhood school did this, there would be a full-out investigation and allegations of cheating. It would be in the paper before a call was madt tothe principal. 14 out of 30 IS a real concern. And if you do it one place, stats say you have done it in another! If you only allowed 14 out of 30 student to take the test (which is against ISBE rules BTW), then what was wrong with the other 16? Attendance? language? special ed? pretend they are in 2nd grade. Not a big deal--well then let UNO Tomayo come clean-NOW!
How'd Your School Do?
i looked for morton's scores and they weren't there....why?
How'd Your School Do?
The whole school only has 250 students.
There are 30 third-graders. I'm still not sure why only 14 of them took the test, but let's be a little more realistic on the claims.
How'd Your School Do?
"Check the number of students tested at UNO Tamayo. They only have 11 third graders??? They have over 250."
NO CHEATING NEEDED, JUST DON'T TEST THEM.
WOW! Alexander--who do you know who can dig into this story. If proved, this would blow a roof off somewhere.
It really would--it would be front page at the suntime and rangle on the huffingtonpost, just huffed and puffed about how great charters arr/ he need to protect that $150+ gs per year salary.
I wonder if he gets a bonus for improved scores?
What does "meeting" mean?
What score does a child have to get on the ISAT to "meet" state standards. I think it is extremely low. For example I know a 59% in Science is considered meeting state standards. If that's considered meeting than I truly fear for our kids. How about "exceeding" standards can any one give the range? If we want to get any sense of how well kids are performing the closest thing we have will be the exceed numbers.
How'd Your School Do?
No ELL students are counted in these numbers.
How'd Your School Do?
to observation above--see the editorial in today's sun-times (Friday). Prestidigitation at its political best and an answer to your question.
How'd Your School Do?
There is no comparison in Edison Park -vs- Edison Gifted -- you can compare them when the exceeded results are put out -- these are only "meeting". Your comparison should be with Ebinger and Oriole. Oh, did you know that there are a number of Edison Gifted students that stayed behind? Did you know there are a number of students from outside the neighborhood? How much did they help the scores?
How'd Your School Do?
Compare the two Edison's (gifted vs now only neighborhood).
How'd Your School Do?
Parental involvement mixed with respect for authority.
How'd Your School Do?
UNO does not test all of their students? Check the number of students tested at Tamayo. They only have 11 third graders??? They have over 250.
How'd Your School Do?
less suspensions? More parent support at home and for school?
How'd Your School Do?
attendance?