December 15, 2000

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Black and Hispanic students continue to make significant gains on their standardized test scores. According to the results of the Stanford Achievement Test Ninth Edition (Stanford 9 TA) administered this fall, Black and Hispanic students achieved higher aggregate gains than their White counterparts. The aggregate gain for White students on the tests was 35 points, while the aggregate gain for Black students was 39 points. The Hispanic population showed the greatest aggregate gain with an increase of 71 points. While the achievement gap still exists, the results of the last two years show that students are gaining ground in reducing this gap.

In October, FCPS Superintendent Daniel Domenech appointed regional superintendent Michael Glascoe to oversee the school system's minority student achievement programs. Glascoe's appointment is part of an aggressive effort to close the gap between the test scores of White and minority students.

"What we've been trying to do is reduce the gap, and that is what we are doing; that's what these numbers are showing. I think this is a good indication that our efforts are succeeding," said FCPS Superintendent Daniel Domenech.

The Stanford 9 TA is a nationally normed achievement test. It was administered to FCPS students in grades 4, 6, and 9 in October 2000. 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 clusters, 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 encourage improvement at the school level.

The following are the test results by ethnic group:

• Asian and White populations scored at or above the 50th percentile on all tests.
• Black students scored at or above the 50th percentile on 11 of the 30 tests reported. Last year, Black students scored at or above the 50th percentile on six of the 30 tests and, in the previous year, on 3 of the 30 tests.
• Hispanic students scored at or above the 50th percentile on 21 of the 30 tests reported. Last year, Hispanic students scored at or above the 50th percentile on 14 of the 30 tests.
• The Hispanic population showed the greatest aggregate gain with a total increase of 71 percentile points. Asians increased 22, Whites 35, and Blacks 39 percentile points.
• The Hispanic population showed the most significant gains with increases of five or more percentile points in eight testing areas.

The total population percentiles went up or remained the same for 26 of the 30 tested areas, while Asians were up or remained the same in 25, Blacks in 23, Hispanics in 24, and Whites in 27.

• The total population showed an aggregate gain of 28 percentile points.
  Other highlights:
• Grade 4 average scores for the total group ranged from the 58th percentile in reading vocabulary to the 80th percentile in science.
• Grade 6 average scores for the total group ranged from the 68th percentile in social science and language to the 85th percentile for math problem solving.
• Grade 9 average scores for the total group ranged from the 65th percentile in language and math procedures to the 81st percentile in science.

click here for score table

Note: For more information, contact Ray Diroll, 703-208-7780, FCPS Office of Planning, Testing, and Evaluation.