Week 2 Discussion - Surprises in Data

Surprises in Data

Monday, January 13, 2020, 12:24 PM

In regards to student achievement, I was surprised that we have been able to meet or

get

very close to most of goals. Often times our projected or estimated average

measures are extremely

close to our actual measures. As a new school, I thought there

would be a significant drop in averages across all grades and demographics because

we have be

gun our own policies and interventions. I thought we would need time to

figure out what works and what does not work. Technically speaking, our first group of

students were not really a true representation of the teachers at our school. The

students were d

emonstrating what they learned at previous schools. Therefore, we

have limited data to access from our student body.

Over the last two years, the students at risk has not changed much. Part of this is due to

the new students that come into the school and a

dd to the at risk number. While the

students who are identified as a student at risk, remain at risk until they leave school.

Also, the qualifications for at risk students has changed in recent years, therefore more

students are now identified as at risk.

One piece of data that surprised me is our SC Ready Math Scores and SC PASS

Science scores. The gap in percentage of students scoring at the meets or exceeds

level in math decreased by 4%, but in science it increased by 5.5%. Usually Science

and Math are c

onnected and move in similar data patterns. With one gap getting

smaller and the other getting larger, I was surprised at the movement in data over the

last two years.

Surprises in Data

Monday, January 13, 2020, 12:24 PM

In regards to student achievement, I was surprised that we have been able to meet or

get very close to most of goals. Often times our projected or estimated average

measures are extremely close to our actual measures. As a new school, I thought there

would be a significant drop in averages across all grades and demographics because

we have begun our own policies and interventions. I thought we would need time to

figure out what works and what does not work. Technically speaking, our first group of

students were not really a true representation of the teachers at our school. The

students were demonstrating what they learned at previous schools. Therefore, we

have limited data to access from our student body.

Over the last two years, the students at risk has not changed much. Part of this is due to

the new students that come into the school and add to the at risk number. While the

students who are identified as a student at risk, remain at risk until they leave school.

Also, the qualifications for at risk students has changed in recent years, therefore more

students are now identified as at risk.

One piece of data that surprised me is our SC Ready Math Scores and SC PASS

Science scores. The gap in percentage of students scoring at the meets or exceeds

level in math decreased by 4%, but in science it increased by 5.5%. Usually Science

and Math are connected and move in similar data patterns. With one gap getting

smaller and the other getting larger, I was surprised at the movement in data over the

last two years.