Social Studies and Science Scores A Mixed Bag
On July 16, results for the Colorado Measure of Academic Success (CMAS), which measures Social Studies (4th and 7th grade) and Science (5th and 8th grade) proficiency, were released.
The accompanying chart shows results for the state, Denver Public Schools, and Park Hill neighborhood’s elementary and middle schools.
The elementary schools are Ashley Elementary School, Hallett Fundamental Academy, Park Hill School, Smith Renaissance School, and Stedman Elementary.
The middle schools include Venture Prep Middle School, which is now closed, as well as three of the five schools in the Park Hill-Stapleton Middle School Enrollment Zone: DSST Stapleton, McAuliffe International School, and William (Bill) Roberts K-8 School.
DSST Conservatory Green and Denver Discovery School opened their doors in August 2014 with 6th graders only. Thus, there are no scores at this time for 7th and 8th grade tests.
The chart shows that DPS generally trails behind the state, which saw scores increase slightly except for 8th grade science.
Noteworthy for Park Hill schools are increases across the board at Ashley Elementary, increases in social studies proficiency at Park Hill and Smith but a significant decrease in science proficiency at Smith, and a decrease in proficiency at Stedman.
At the middle school level, a 23 point drop in DSST’s “strong command” of science, an increase in social studies proficiency at McAuliffe and a decrease in both science and social studies at Bill Roberts.
Interpretation of the results should include multiple factors, not always apparent, such as poverty levels, availability of resources and curriculum, stability and quality of school staffing, availability of wraparound services such as school social worker, nurse, after-school programs, parent education, and so on.
A complete list of results for all Colorado and DPS schools is available on the Colorado Department of Education website, http://www.cde.state.co.us.
|
School |
Subject |
Grade |
Year |
Limited Command |
Moderate Command |
Strong |
Distinguished Command |
|
Elementary Schools |
|||||||
|
Colorado State |
Soc Studies |
4 |
2014 |
32.2 |
50.8 |
15.2 |
1.8 |
|
Colorado State |
Soc Studies |
4 |
2015 |
29.9 |
48.3 |
18.2 |
3.6 |
|
Colorado State |
Science |
5 |
2014 |
28.3 |
38.1 |
30.1 |
3.5 |
|
Colorado State |
Science |
5 |
2015 |
29.1 |
36.1 |
30.4 |
4.4 |
|
DPS wide |
Soc Studies |
4 |
2014 |
48.3 |
40.7 |
9.6 |
1.3 |
|
DPS wide |
Soc Studies |
4 |
2015 |
44.6 |
40.8 |
11.8 |
2.7 |
|
DPS wide |
Science |
5 |
2014 |
46.1 |
34.3 |
17.6 |
2 |
|
DPS wide |
Science |
5 |
2015 |
48 |
30 |
19 |
2.9 |
|
Ashley |
Soc Studies |
4 |
2014 |
61.9 |
38.1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Ashley |
Soc Studies |
4 |
2015 |
45.7 |
52.2 |
2.2 |
0 |
|
Ashley |
Science |
5 |
2014 |
73.8 |
23 |
3.3 |
0 |
|
Ashley |
Science |
5 |
2015 |
53.1 |
36.7 |
10.2 |
0 |
|
Hallett |
Soc Studies |
4 |
2014 |
63.6 |
31.8 |
4.5 |
0 |
|
Hallett |
Soc Studies |
4 |
2015 |
71.4 |
28.6 |
0 |
0 |
|
Hallett |
Science |
5 |
2014 |
42.9 |
49 |
8.2 |
0 |
|
Hallett |
Science |
5 |
2015 |
48.8 |
46.3 |
4.9 |
0 |
|
Park Hill |
Soc Studies |
4 |
2014 |
20.2 |
46.1 |
28.1 |
5.6 |
|
Park Hill |
Soc Studies |
4 |
2015 |
18.4 |
30.3 |
38.2 |
13.2 |
|
Park Hill |
Science |
5 |
2014 |
19.3 |
29.5 |
44.3 |
6.8 |
|
Park Hill |
Science |
5 |
2015 |
21.6 |
27.3 |
44.3 |
6.8 |
|
Smith |
Soc Studies |
4 |
2014 |
46.3 |
51.9 |
1.9 |
0 |
|
Smith |
Soc Studies |
4 |
2015 |
41.7 |
50 |
8.3 |
0 |
|
Smith |
Science |
5 |
2014 |
31.7 |
39 |
29.3 |
0 |
|
Smith |
Science |
5 |
2015 |
42.6 |
44.4 |
13 |
0 |
|
Stedman |
Soc Studies |
4 |
2014 |
47.2 |
47.2 |
5.7 |
0 |
|
Stedman |
Soc Studies |
4 |
2015 |
68.5 |
27.8 |
3.7 |
0 |
|
Stedman |
Science |
5 |
2014 |
54 |
36 |
10 |
0 |
|
Stedman |
Science |
5 |
2015 |
60.3 |
32.8 |
6.9 |
0 |
|
Middle Schools |
|||||||
|
Colorado State |
Soc Studies |
7 |
2014 |
45 |
38.4 |
12.5 |
4.1 |
|
Colorado State |
Soc Studies |
7 |
2015 |
43.5 |
38.9 |
13 |
4.5 |
|
Colorado State |
Science |
8 |
2014 |
31.5 |
36 |
30.1 |
2.4 |
|
Colorado State |
Science |
8 |
2015 |
36.7 |
34.2 |
26.5 |
2.5 |
|
DPS wide |
Soc Studies |
7 |
2014 |
60.3 |
28.2 |
8.8 |
2.8 |
|
DPS wide |
Soc Studies |
7 |
2015 |
52.4 |
32.2 |
10 |
5.4 |
|
DPS wide |
Science |
8 |
2014 |
47.3 |
30.4 |
20.5 |
1.8 |
|
DPS wide |
Science |
8 |
2015 |
52.8 |
27.3 |
18.2 |
1.7 |
|
DSST Stapleton |
Soc Studies |
7 |
2014 |
21.9 |
39.7 |
25.2 |
13.2 |
|
DSST Stapleton |
Soc Studies |
7 |
2015 |
19.7 |
35.7 |
26.1 |
18.5 |
|
DSST Stapleton |
Science |
8 |
2014 |
5 |
22.7 |
60.3 |
12.1 |
|
DSST Stapleton |
Science |
8 |
2015 |
17.4 |
32.2 |
37.6 |
12.8 |
|
McAuliffe |
Soc Studies |
7 |
2014 |
15.6 |
42.5 |
28 |
14 |
|
McAuliffe |
Soc Studies |
7 |
2015 |
21.5 |
30.8 |
24.3 |
23.5 |
|
McAuliffe |
Science |
8 |
2014 |
||||
|
McAuliffe |
Science |
8 |
2015 |
23.8 |
20.7 |
48 |
7.5 |
|
Venture Prep |
Soc Studies |
7 |
2014 |
80.6 |
19.4 |
0 |
0 |
|
Venture Prep |
Soc Studies |
7 |
2015 |
||||
|
Venture Prep |
Science |
8 |
2014 |
77.3 |
18.2 |
4.5 |
0 |
|
Venture Prep |
Science |
8 |
2015 |
70.6 |
26.5 |
2.9 |
0 |
|
Bill Roberts |
Soc Studies |
7 |
2014 |
32.6 |
23.3 |
32.6 |
11.6 |
|
Bill Roberts |
Soc Studies |
7 |
2015 |
25.9 |
44.8 |
19 |
10.3 |
|
Bill Roberts |
Science |
8 |
2014 |
23.4 |
31.9 |
36.2 |
8.5 |
|
Bill Roberts |
Science |
8 |
2015 |
32.7 |
28.6 |
32.7 |
6.1 |