Martin Middle School Gains Again in State Testing - Bob Rodericks

Martin Middle School Gains Again in State Testing - Bob Rodericks

E.R. Martin Principal Glenn Piros met with the Reporter to issue a statement to the community concerning Martin's gains in state NECAP testing. "I am very proud of Martin's students, faculty all staff and parents! We continue to excel here at Martin and I want our community to be aware of this," Piros told the Reporter. Here is his press release in full:

Release of NECAP Results for Edward R. Martin Middle School: Students Continue to Excel

The results of the 2011 New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP) were recently released. This year’s test results continue to be encouraging for Edward R. Martin Middle School. On Wednesday February 15th, 2012 the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) also released their public report summarizing R.I.’s NECAP state results. Included in these results was an analysis of student scores in grades K-12. For Edward R. Martin Middle School these results were extremely positive. Last year Martin was one of two R.I. public middle schools that made “statistically significant” gains in reading. This year’s report identifies Edward R. Martin Middle School as one of R.I.’s middle schools with a 10% overall increase, or “statistically significant progress,” in both reading and math in 2011 compared to results in 2007.

When analyzing the results in-depth, Edward R. Martin Middle Schools’ 7th grade students posted a 5% increase in reading scores from 2010 to 2011. The percentage of seventh grade students that are currently testing at or above the proficiency level is 77% in reading. This is currently 5% above the state’s reported student proficiency level in reading scores of 72 percent. Seventh grade math scores increased 11% from 2010 to 2011. The percentage of seventh grade students that are currently testing at or above the proficiency level is 65% in math. This is currently 9% above the state’s reported student proficiency level of 56% for math.

A longitudinal analysis of these same 7th grade students scores compared to the same groups results as 6th graders, identifies a very significant increase of 13% in their reading scores from 6th grade to 7th grade. Seventh grade students also posted a 3% increase in math score since last year’s NECAP scores were released from 2010 to 2011.

As impressive as the 7th grade results are this year, Edward R. Martin middle school students also posted improved results in other grades. The proficiency totals for our 8th grade students improved by 5% in math from last year’s results. A longitudinal analysis of the three years the 8th grade students were at Martin show their proficiency in reading increased by 14%. Our community should be proud of the results from Martins’ continued improved NECAP scores.

As students receive their individual scores they are grouped by four specific categories. Students can achieve a NECAP score of Proficient with Distinction (Level 4), Proficient (Level 3), Partially Proficient (Level 2), and Substantially Below Proficient (Level 1). Edward R. Martin Middle school students recorded improvements in level 4, in all grades. In addition, Martin students registered drastically fewer level 1 scores in all grades, this being highlighted by only 3% of 7th graders testing at level 1 compared to the state average of 10% of 7th graders at level one. Eighth graders also fared well in comparison to the state average, posting only 5% of students testing at level one compared to the state average of 7%. These results are elevated when you take into account that Edward R. Martin Middle School is charged with educating all middle level English Language Learners (ELL) for the entire district.

As we continue to analyze and compare student achievement, our students continue to demonstrate praiseworthy levels of achievement in both reading and math. These are statistical results that demonstrate great achievement throughout the entire school community. Congratulations to all students, parents, and educators on a job well done.

Glenn J. Piros

Principal,

Edward R. Martin Middle School