Black students in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) continue to make substantial gains on standardized test scores, according to the results of the Stanford Achievement Test Ninth Edition (Stanford 9 TA) administered this fall. Black students achieved an aggregate gain of 64 points, compared to the aggregate gain for white students of 40 points. Since the inception of the Stanford 9TA testing in 1999, all ethnic groups in FCPS have shown increased achievement and are now scoring above the 50th percentile on most of the tests.
"I am very encouraged by these scores because they prove that our efforts to increase minority student achievement are paying off," said Superintendent Daniel A. Domenech. "The dedication of our faculty and staff and our school system's initiatives to strengthen minority student achievement are producing positive results."
The Stanford 9 TA is a nationally normed achievement test that was administered to FCPS students in grades 4, 6, and 9 in October 2001. The Stanford 9 TA is required by the Virginia Department of Education as part of the Virginia State Assessment program. The results of this test help to guide instructional decision making at the school, pyramid cluster, and county levels. In addition, student performance on this assessment is an integral part of the division's Schoolwide Achievement Index, the accountability method used by FCPS to gauge and encourage improvement at the school level.
The following are the test results by ethnic group:
The total population percentiles went up or remained the same for 27 of the 30 tested areas, while Asians' scores were up or remained the same in 25 areas, Blacks' scores in 26 areas, Hispanics' scores in 19 areas, and Whites' scores in all 30 areas. The total population showed an aggregate gain of 34 percentile points.
Other highlights include:
(Stanford Press Release Table 1)
Note: For more information, contact Ray Diroll, FCPS Office of Student Testing, at 703-208-7780.
Eunice Kennedy Shriver, executive vice president of the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., Foundation and founder and honorary chairman of Special Olympics, Inc., will visit Woodley Hills Elementary School in Fairfax County at 10 a.m. on Monday, February 4. Shriver plans to focus on Woodley Hills' Community of Caring component during her visit.
Woodley Hills Elementary received a national school of character award in October 2001 for its work to encourage the social, ethical, and academic development of its students through character education. Woodley Hills is a Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Project Excel school and is also a math and science focus school with a diverse student body. Students in kindergarten through grade 6, including a number of students with disabilities, attend the school.
Community of Caring, a project of the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., Foundation, is a comprehensive character education program that teaches the five core values of caring, responsibility, respect, trust, and family. Its goal is to teach and model these values in school and in the home. Shriver plans to observe how the teachers are implementing the values and how special education students are included in general education classes.
Note: For more information, contact Woodley Hills principal Rima Vesilind at 703-799-2000.
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* Priority will be given to speakers who have not previously addressed the School Board on this topic. Any interested parties may submit written comments to the School Board Office by fax at 703-278-8648 or by e-mail.
Note: This calendar is accurate as of January 31, 2002. If the calendar changes at any time during the month, those changes can be viewed online at www.fcps.edu/mediapub/pressrel/cal/htm.
