Solano County Students Improve on 2012 STAR Results

By Solano County Office of Education

Solano County students continue to demonstrate strong gains in English-language arts and mathematics, according to the results of California’s 2012 Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) test results.

Approximately 48,400 Solano County students participated in the 2012 STAR program. The results were released to the public by the California Department of Education on August 31.

The STAR tests were administered in the spring of 2012 to all California public school students in grades 2 through 11. The tests were developed specifically to assess students' knowledge of the California content standards.

The State Board of Education adopted these standards, which specify what all children in California are expected to know and be able to do in each grade or course. Scores are used for calculating each school's Academic Performance Index (API) and Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP).

“These test results are proof that Solano County students continue to meet and exceed California’s rigorous academic standards,” said Jay Speck, Solano County Superintendent of Schools. “Even though we observe significant gains by minority and socioeconomically disadvantaged students, an achievement gap continues to persist in Solano County. We must persevere in our work to eliminate it.”

The achievement gap refers to the observed and persistent disparity on a number of educational measures between the performance of groups of students, especially groups defined by gender, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status.

In fourth grade, 68% of all students scored proficient or advanced in English-language arts; a 5% increase over the last year and a 14% increase over the past five years. Solano County’s fourth-graders also scored 71% proficient or advanced in mathematics; a 2% increase over the past year and a 13% increase over the past five years. Hispanic fourth-graders scored 58% proficient or advanced in English-language arts; a 5% increase over the past year and an increase of 17% over the past five years. African American fourth-graders scored 58% proficient or advanced in mathematics; a 4% increase over the past year and a 16% increase over the past five years.

In eighth grade, 55% of all students scored proficient or advanced in English-language arts; there was no increase over the past year and an 8% increase over the past five years. Solano County’s eighth-graders scored 52% proficient or advanced in Algebra 1; a 2% increase over the past year and a 13% increase over the past five years. African American eighth-graders scored 39% proficient or advanced in English-language arts; a decrease of 1% over the past year and an 8% increase over the past five years. Hispanic eighth-graders scored 44% proficient or advanced in Algebra 1; a 6% increase over the past year and a 16% increase over the past five years.

"We continue to see growth despite severe budget cuts and increased class sizes,” said Lisette Estrella-Henderson, Associate Superintendent of Student Programs and Educational Services for the Solano County Office of Education. “It is truly a tribute to the hard work of our school staffs under very difficult circumstances"

Complete results of California’s 2012 STAR Program exams can be found on the CDE’s web site at http://star.cde.ca.gov

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