Published: May 03, 2009 09:10 pm      

Duncan School District to improve API test scores

DUNCAN — To teach students what the Oklahoma Department of Education wants them to know, Duncan Public Schools changed what subject material would be focused on in the classrooms.

Because of this, many of the Duncan schools improved when the Academic Performance Index (API) results were provided to the district. API scores are based on test scores in math and reading. Between the two tests, a school can score up to 1,500.

Duncan Assistant Superintendent Glenda Cobb said, “We’ve been working hard. The buildings have been focused on PASS objectives. They’re teaching to the standards.

“Before that, teachers spent time going through the text books, but those focus on the country, not what the state wants.”

Overall the district had an API score of 1,241 for 2008. This is an increase from the score from 1,206 for 2007.

Although the majority of Duncan schools increased in their API scores, two declined. Horace Mann had a score of 1,340 for 2007 and a score of 1,212 for 2008. Will Rogers Pre-Kindergarten also dropped by going from 1,248 for 2007 to 1,219 for 2008.

While a school may decline in API scores, Cobb said this doesn’t become a large concern until the school’s scores decrease two years in a row.

“There are variables that affect test scores that are outside the control of the school district,” she said. “We have to work to mitigate those variables.”

Whenever a school or a district declines in API scores for two consecutive years, the school or district in question is put on a school improvement list. To get removed from this list, the school or district has to increase its API score two years in a row.

None of the Duncan schools are on this list, which Cobb said is a good thing.

“Achieving a goal of perfection is never going to happen,” she said. “We have to show improvement. It takes hard work to improve.”

The schools that showed improvement from the 2007 results to the 2008 results include Emerson Elementary with 1,397 for 2008, Mark Twain Elementary with 1,326, Plato Elementary with 1,467, Woodrow Wilson Elementary with 1,099, Duncan Middle School with 1,287 and Duncan High School with 1,226.

“We’re really very proud of these schools who have this tremendous growth,” Cobb said. “They have had to work hard.”

Scores for other Stephens County schools and school districts include:

n Bray-Doyle Public Schools — Elementary with 1,299 in 2007 and 1,255 in 2008; High school with 1,182 in 2007 and 1,245 in 2008; Total of 1,232 in 2007 and 1,197 in 2008.

• Central High Public Schools — Elementary with 1,421 in 2007 and 1,374 in 2008; High school with 1,244 in 2007 and 1,141 in 2008; Total of 1,335 in 2007 and 1,296 in 2008.

• Comanche Public School — Elementary with 1,213 in 2007 and 1,278 in 2008; Middle school with 1,132 in 2007 and 1,248 in 2008; High school with 1,222 in 2007 and 1,178 in 2008; Total of 1,169 in 2007 and 1,278 in 2008.

• Empire Public Schools — Elementary with 1,307 in 2007 and 1,298 in 2008; High school with 1,202 in 2007 and 1,160 in 2008; Total of 1,277 in 2007 and 1,280 in 2008.

• Gradview Public School — Total of 1,217 in 2007 and 1,419 in 2008.

• Marlow Public Schools — Elementary with 1,398 in 2007 and 1,445 in 2008; Middle school with 1,232 in 2007 and 1,326 in 2008; High school with 1,284 in 2007 and 1,383 in 2008; Total of 1,307 in 2007 and 1,380 in 2008.

• Velma-Alma Public Schools — Elementary with 1,248 in 2007 and 1,228 in 2008; Middle school with 1,197 in 2007 and 1,170 in 2008; High school with 1,204 in 2007 and 1,214 in 2008; Total of 1,228 in 2007 and 1,211 in 2008.