The perception of the High School Assessments is changing as Howard County test takers scored more than 80 percent overall in four subject areas, but some question its quality.
“I?m glad to see we have the highest scores [in the Baltimore region], but what does it really mean?” Howard PTA Council President Mary Jane Barbato-Grauso said. “I don?t believe it?s a relevant enough test to make it such a high-stakes test.”
The test is required only by the state and has no connection with the federal No Child Left Behind Act, which mandates the Maryland State Assessments for elementary and middle schools and affects federal funding, said the mother of a 10th-grader.
Starting with the class of 2009, students must pass the HSA.
Barbato-Grauso said another test should be created to compare students across the country.
“Kids don?t perform as well on the tests, because they don?t feel it?s as important as the SATs,” she said.
But the perception is changing as students realize they must pass tests to graduate in 2009, Howard High School Principal Gina Massella said.
For the 2006-07 school year, Howard High ranked second-highest percent passing in algebra and biology, sixth-highest in English and fourth-highest in government.
“In the four subjects, our teachers [within a given subject] collaborate and spend a lot of time making sure they teach the same curriculum,” she said.
At Oakland Mills High School, Principal Frank Eastham said he examines the scores from a different perspective.
He said he looks at the percentage of students who passed based only on those who took the test, rather than the total enrollment, resulting in higher scores.
For example, Eastham said the school?s 74.6 percent passing rate in algebra would have been 86.1 percent passing if the outcome was based on those who took the test.
But when compared with its county peers, Oakland Mills ranked the second lowest in all subject areas.
To address the low scores, he said Oakland Mills has been using specific programs for specific students.
Those on sports teams, for instance, have the chance to attend after-school tutoring programs.
