Carroll County students scored high in the 2006 High School Assessments, but the school officials added staff to each public high school for the coming year to address the needs of students who failed.
The county ranked No. 1 in government, second in algebra and third in biology compared with the rest of the state, according to data released Monday by the state. English scores will be released later this fall.
“We have been at the top of the state,” said Greg Bricca, director of research and accountability.
“What is encouraging about this year is as the scores across the state are going up, we are improving as well as anyone else.”
Bricca said the next step is to get the detailed data on each student and develop plans to ensure each student passes the tests. Students in the class of 2009 must pass the tests in the subjects of biology, algebra, government and English to graduate.
“That [data] is really going to be able to tell us what we need to know,” he said.
The county has added one full-time position per high school for this coming school year to help the students who will be retesting, Bricca said. Students can retest up to three times each year.
This year?s remediators will be focusing on algebra and government, the two tests all freshman have taken. Next year, they could add more staff to help in English and biology, since the students are taking those tests this year, Bricca said.
Statewide, last year?s freshmen showed high marks, with 71.5 percent passing algebra, 79.4 passing biology and 77.8 passing government.
The data for last year?s freshman scores was not available.
Director of High Schools Sherri-Le Bream said more detailed data, which school officials expect to get in a couple of weeks, will better guide administrators in tailoring the curriculum and working with teachers to target students who need help.
“We really do try to pick apart all the data and then relate that back to the classroom,” she said.
Percent of students who passed the High School Assessments
Government
» Carroll County
2006: 87.4 percent
2005: 80.6 percent
» State
2006: 74.2 percent
2005: 66.4 percent
Biology
» Carroll County
2006: 81.5 percent
2005: 74.6 percent
» State
2006: 67.8 percent
2005: 57.6 percent
Algebra
» Carroll County
2006: 85.4 percent
2005: 74.6 percent
» State
2006: 66.6 percent
2005: 53.8 percent
Source: Maryland State Department of Education
