Hudson Students Score Among the Lowest in the Nation
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A recent article that appeared in newspapers across the state exposed the discrepancies in K-!2 student proficiency between the various states. In an effort to expropriate an increasing amount of tax dollars, the state and our local school boards continually parade the pennant of quality education as evidenced by high test scores. It appears however that the measuring stick used by this state and the Hudson School District is a little short of those used by other states. According to the article, the gauge for measuring student proficiency in Wisconsin, and thus Hudson, is quite a bit lower than those of other states. Furthermore, the questions asked on the Wisconsin test may be diluted as to their difficulty. Low Standards
On another front concerning test scores, it also seems that the measurement of the ACT is not equal between the different states. The source of this inequality stems from the fact that the student participation rates varies greatly from state to state. Two states in the nation, Colorado and Illinois, require 100% of their seniors to take the ACT. Other states ranked high in participation include Tennessee (96%), Mississippi (96%), and Alabama (81%). The over all participation rate in Wisconsin is 70% and here in Hudson the rate comes in below the state average at around 60% (250 out of 400 students). Making the safe assumption that those not taking the ACT are not college material, and therefore more than likely to score significantly lower than those taking the test, then is it accurate to compare scores of one state with another especially with a variance in the percentage of students participating?
The lowest common denominator of those not taking the test is zero. After all if you fail to show for a test, then this would be the expected outcome for a student who was a no-show. Taking that as a basis then we can assign a score of zero to those percentages not taking the ACT. In states like Illinois and Colorado, the average ACT score is an actual figure of all those taking the test. In the case of Tennessee and Mississippi you would multiply their state averages by 96 and the number zero by 4, which always equals zero. Sum the products and divide by a 100 to get an average at a participation rate of 100%.
In Hudson, this would mean multiplying the average of 23.7 by 60 and then dividing by 100, which results in average Act score for the district of 14.22. This makes Hudson one of the lowest ranking school districts in the nation.
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Not lower than New Richmond where 49.5% of students take the ACT and the average score is 22.7, its lowest in years.
Oh my, isn’t this rich… I too have read the Fordham study, it is fascinating but ought not be surprising. Moreover, it would be laughable were not so damn serious.
All across districts here in Wisconsin the superfluous is being offered at the price of academic achievement (one of the newest fads in government K-12 pedagogy is no homework).
By and large, teachers are intellectually lazy at the very least and this non-thinking gets transmitted to the students.
Someone needs to run for school board in this district just to raise the debates that ought to be raised – win, lose, or draw there ought to be serious questions raised across the board.
Even without looking at national participation rates, New Richmond’s participation level in the ACT is discouraging. With less than one-half of seniors taking the test, we are below the state average of 57% and below every other school in the Middle Border conference. [Amery 54.2%; Baldwin Woodville 60%; Durand 53.6%; Ellsworth 55.5%; Osceola 63.1%; Prescott 68.5% and Somerset 52.1%].
Somerset’s superintendent Randy Rosburg stated to the New Richmond News that “some schools only encourage those students who have taken college preparatory courses to take the ACT. What results is a skewed perception of the school’s performance as a whole” [NR News 8/30/07].
Could he be talking about New Richmond? Principal Jeff Moberg says, “We encourage anyone who is even remotely considering goingto a four-year school to get in there and take it. [NR News 8/30/07.]
Even with less than one-half of the students taking it, the New Richmond scores in Math and Science are below average. In math, they have been below the state average for the past five years and are now 21.8NR vs. 22.2 State. In science, they have traditionally been at or above the state average. Today they are slightly below(22.2NR 22.4 State.) Yet Principal Moberg is quoted as saying “our math and science scores are hanging right at the state average. We would like to see it get ahead of that mark.” [NR News 8/30/07].
If we look at the Middle Border conference schools, New Richmond rates 5th of 9 in Math and 7th of 9 in Science.
The Chetek Mathematicsx Partnership just received a grant to enrich math and science for $335,000. While Somerset, St. Croix Falls, and Osceola are all participating, New Richmond is not.
So there we have it. Fewer New Richmond students took the ACT test than the state average and fewer than any other middle border school. Even with lower participation rates, the school average was below the state average in math and science and at the bottom end of the middle border conference. And while staff at some of the surrounding districts will spend parts of their summers enriching their math and science programs, we have heard nothing about any proposed enrichment in New Richmond.
Why is that? Until people acknowledge there is a need for improving the math and science at our high school, nothing much will change. The article states, “New Richmond’s Jeff Moberg is pleased with New Richmond’s scores on the test.” [NR News 8/3007]. It’s statements like these that make me–
Blue in New Richmond
Educators also recognize that the level of participation affects the outcome. Somerset Superintendent Randy Rosburg stated “Some schools only encourage those students who have taken college preparatory courses to take the Act. What results is a skewed perception of the school’s performance as a whole.” [NR News 8/30/08].
I wonder if he is be talking about New Richmond? Principal Jeff Moberg stated “We encourage anybody who is even remotely considering going to a four-year school to get in there and take it.” [NR News 8/30/07]. Yet New Richmond’s participation rate is less than one-half of students[49.5%]! That is below the state average of 57% and lower than ALL other schools in the Middle Border Conference [Amery, 54.2; Baldwin-Woodville, 60%; Durand 53.6%; Ellsworth 55.5%; Osceola 63.1%; Prescott 68.5% and Somerset 52.1%]!
The test scores themselves are worrisome. While it is true that New Richmond is ahead of the state composite score [22.4 NR vs. 22.2 State] the math and science scores are below the state averages. In math, New Richmond has been below the state average for the past five years and continues to be [21.8NR vs. 22.2 state]. In science, we have historically been at or above the average, but are now below the state average [22.2NR 22.4 State]. Yet Principal Jeff Moberg says “our math and science scores are hanging right at the state average. We would like to see it get ahead of that mark.”[NR News 8/30/07].
If we look at the eight Middle Border Conference schools, New Richmond ranks 5th in Math and 7th in Science.
The Chetek Mathematics Partnership was recently awarded a $335,000 grand to enrich their math and science programs. Somerset, St. Croix Falls and Osceola are all participating in summer enrichment programs, but New Richmond is not.
So there we have it, fewer New Richmond students took the ACT test than the state average or any of the other middle border schools. Of those tested, the school averages in math and science were below the state average and at the bottom of the Middle Border. And while staff at some surrounding districts will spend parts of their summers enriching their math and science programs, we have heard nothing about enrichment in New Richmond.
Until people acknowledge there is a need to improve math and science at our high school, nothing much will change. The article states, “New Richmond’s Jeff Moberg is pleased with New Richmond scores on the test.” [NR News 8/30/07]. It’s statements like these that make me–
Blue in New Richmond
Excellent points Blue! You’ll also recall that earlier in the year, the New Richmond High School was identfied as offering the least amount of science classes in an analysis of 20 comparable (demographic, income, etc.) schools in western Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota. District Curriculum Director Heyerdahl offered no explanation. However what new classes has the District introduced at the High School recently? – International Foods.
You have focused on one of the important failings of the School Board and the Administration. Its sole focus for the past 10 years has been on sports programs and constructing new buildings – not on academic performance.
Thanks for your commentary.
For anyone who claims self-piety just because they use their real name in an argument, then that individual needs to stand in the place of those they mock. Unlike many Republican Party officials and candidates, the so-called masked marvels who blog have had the courage to walk side by side with their convictions in the public realm. The CBers have publicly spoken as to their principles. These anonymous sirens donâ??t shy away from a tough fight; no matter how bloody it gets.
Meanwhile, the pious conservatives talk about limited government and freedom, but shake with fear behind the safe confines of their homes or businesses when a letter needs to be written, a speech to be made, or a yard sign placed for all to see. The saints warn all about the evils of big government, but meekly crawl away when confronted with the largest part of government, government-run education.
How can you talk of limited government while silently sitting by as government-run education confiscates more of our wealth and dilutes the intelligence of youth? How can you speak of government evil and watch muted as citizenâ??s right to free speech are trampled on or as government union thugs maliciously attack the personal properties of duly elected board members. Finally, how can you rally against big government spending all the while actively participating in a process that resulted in one of the largest tax increases in the state of Wisconsin?
The Founding Fathers didnâ??t bring forth the idea of limited government and individual freedom with an exempt clause. They didnâ??t speak of limited government butâ??â??..but as in the case of healthcare, agricultural, retirement, and most of all government-run education.
This is the outcome of spending $11,000 per student