First- and second-graders in Baltimore City public schools demonstrated marked improvement in math and reading proficiency for the second straight year on the national Stanford Achievement Test, according to results
released Monday.
The largest percentile increase was made by first-graders on the math portion of the test, where Baltimore children scored slightly higher than the national average, placing in the 53rd percentile overall in 2006.
Last year, Baltimore public school first-graders placed in the 46th percentile in math. In reading, first-graders moved from the 41st to the 46th percentile.
Second-graders made smaller, but still significant gains in each core subject. In math, Baltimore second-graders improved four points from last year to score in the 48th percentile on the national test. In reading, they scored in the 43rd percentile, a two-point improvement.
Schools CEO Bonnie Copeland and Brian Morris, Board of School Commissioners chairman, praised students, parents, teachers and principals at a news conference at George Washington Elementary in South Baltimore.
“In schools where there is excellence, it starts with the principal. They set the tone,” Morris said. “It starts the very first moment a child steps in the door.”
The principals, in turn, pointed to committed, veteran teachers as the key ingredient in successful schools, including Principal Susan Burgess at George Washington, which scored first among city schools in second-grade reading and math, placing in the 93rd and 87th percentiles, respectively.
“Some of it is a little luck, keeping good teachers around,” said Burgess, who has been with the city school system for 34 years. “But a lot of it is recognition for the job they do and presenting the opportunity for staff and professional development.”
Monique Parks, who attended George Washington, now has a daughter, Diamonique, in second grade at the school. Parks attested to the importance of longevity and the commitment of teaching staff.
“Some of the same teachers I had are still here,” Parks said. “It?s like a family. Ms. Heather Silvernail and Ms. Karen Tony, who my daughter had in first and second grade, are so wonderful with the kids and really care that they are learning. They?ll call home and say, ?You need to go over this with her.? But they also call or send a note when they have good news.”
STAND OUT SCHOOLS
George Washington, Langston Hughes, Roland Park, Hampden, Liberty, Armistead Gardens, Thomas Johnson, Federal Hill Preparatory, Abbottston, Harlem Park, William Paca, Midtown Academy and Woodhome elementary schools all placed in at least the 80th percentile in one Stanford test for either first- or second-graders.
