Editor’s Note: This is the second of a four part series of articles about the Benchmark exams at area school districts.
Third graders in Dollarway School District scored proficient or above for literacy and math on the recently released Benchmark exams.
Test results for April 2012 Arkansas Augmented Benchmark Examinations for students in grades three through eight were released earlier this month.
Below are the results from Dollarway for 2012 with the 2011 scores included for comparative purposes.
The scaled scoring system used for the tests includes a range of possible scores in categories of below basic, basic, proficient and advanced. Each test for each grade has a different scale range.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Dollarway
Grades three, four and five in the Dollarway district are divided between Townsend Park Elementary and Altheimer-Martin Elementary schools.
Dollarway Middle School houses the sixth, seventh and eighth grades.
Long-time educator Frank Anthony was recently appointed Dollarway superintendent.
“We must have our teachers come in well prepared to teach and with a well organized, solid lesson plan,” Anthony said. “Having a lesson plan is an everyday requirement. We must have a written lesson plan and some type of evaluation. We must also have an environment that is conducive to learning.”
Anthony said that discipline must be maintained in order to provide an appropriate learning environment for students.
“We have to find our direction and roll up our sleeves,” Anthony said. “We must work hard but also smart.”
Third grade literacy
Scale ranges: below basic, 0-329; basic, 330-499; proficient, 500-653; advanced, 654 and above.
The scaled scores for third grade literacy include Townsend Park, 539.3 for 2012 and 432 for 2011; Altheimer-Martin, 654.5 for 2012 and 489 for 2011.
Third grade math
Scale ranges: below basic, 0-408; basic, 409-499; proficient, 500-585; advanced, 586 and above.
The scaled scores for third grade math include Townsend Park, 555 for 2012 and 525.5 for 2011; Altheimer-Martin, 585.5 for 2012 and 515 for 2011.
Fourth grade literacy
Scale ranges: below basic, 0-353; basic, 354-558; proficient, 559-747; advanced, 748 and above.
The scaled scores for fourth grade literacy include Townsend Park, 691 for 2012 and 625.5 for 2011; Altheimer-Martin, 599.7 for 2012 and 550 for 2011.
Fourth grade math
Scale ranges: below basic, 0-494; basic, 495-558; proficient, 559-639; advanced, 640 and above.
The scaled scores for fourth grade math include Townsend Park, 619 for 2012 and 624 for 2011; Altheimer-Martin, 540.3 for 2012 and 550 for 2011.
Fifth grade literacy
Scale ranges: below basic, 0-381; basic, 382-603; proficient, 604-798; advanced, 799 and above.
The scaled scores for fifth grade literacy include Townsend Park, 655 for 2012 and 585 for 2011; Altheimer-Martin, 667.7 for 2012 and 604 for 2011.
Fifth grade math
Scale ranges: below basic, 0-543; basic, 544-603; proficient, 604-696; advanced, 697 and above.
The scaled scores for fifth grade math include Townsend Park, 616 for 2012 and 604 for 2011; Altheimer-Martin, 621.5 for 2012 and 629 for 2011.
Sixth grade literacy
Scale ranges: below basic, 0-416; basic 417-640; proficient, 641-822; advanced, 823 and above.
The scaled scores for sixth grade literacy include Dollarway Middle School, 642.7 for 2012 and 646 for 2011.
Sixth grade math
Scale ranges: below basic, 0-568; basic, 569-640; proficient, 641-721; advanced, 722 and above.
The scaled scores for sixth grade math include Dollarway Middle School, 628.3 for 2012 and 663 for 2011.
Seventh grade literacy
Scale ranges: below basic, 0-425; basic, 426-672; proficient, 673-866; advanced, 867 and above.
The scaled scores for seventh grade literacy include Dollarway Middle School, 768 for 2012 and 644 for 2011.
Seventh grade math
Scale ranges: below basic, 0-621; basic, 622-672; proficient, 673-763; advanced, 764 and above.
The scaled scores for seventh grade math include Dollarway Middle School, 720.5 for 2012 and 685 for 2011.
Eighth grade literacy
Scale ranges: below basic, 0-506; basic, 507-699; proficient, 700-913; advanced, 914 and above.
The scaled scores for eighth grade literacy include Dollarway Middle School, 749 for 2012 and 667 for 2011.
Eighth grade math
Scale ranges: below basic, 0-654; basic, 655-699; proficient, 700-801; advanced, 802 and above.
The scaled scores for eighth grade math include Dollarway Middle School, 687 for 2012 and 631 for 2011.