Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) results were released on Tuesday, revealing an increase in performance in middle school and high school students, while elementary school students generally performed worse, in comparison to 2009 test scores.
The FCAT is given to students enrolled in Florida public schools from grades 3 to 11, measuring their performance in reading, mathematics, writing, and science. Reading and mathematics tests are administered to students in grades 3 to 10, science to grades 5, 8, and 11, and writing to grades 4, 8, and 10.
The scores for reading, mathematics, and science are based on a scale of 1 to 5, while the writing exam is scored according to a rubric from 1 to 6.
The percentage of students who scored proficient and above (scoring 3 and above) in reading increased from the previous year for grades 3, and 6 through 10. For mathematics, those scoring proficient and above increased for grades 5, 6, 7, 8, and 10, with 4 percent as the highest percentage increase in 10th graders. Other grades saw a decrease of as much as 2 percent or remained the same.
In science, those scoring proficient and above increased for all three grades that were tested.
Over 90 percent of students in grades 4, 8, and 10 scored three or above in writing scores, with a high of 96 percent in 8th graders.
This year was the first time the Florida Department of Education implemented a new change to the writing exam. In the past, the exam assessed two modes of writing. This year, only one was tested.
Earlier this month, testing results were delayed due to “technology issues with the state’s new testing contractor, NCS Pearson,” reported the Department of Education.
Florida Education commissioner Dr. Eric J. Smith promised that he will address the disparities between performances by elementary school versus middle- and high school grades.
“Reasons for this will vary locally but I am confident that ... at both the state and district level, we will be able to move past this plateau and spark new levels of success in our early grades and beyond,” Smith said.
Students and families can expect to receive individual student score reports by July 8.
The FCAT is given to students enrolled in Florida public schools from grades 3 to 11, measuring their performance in reading, mathematics, writing, and science. Reading and mathematics tests are administered to students in grades 3 to 10, science to grades 5, 8, and 11, and writing to grades 4, 8, and 10.
The scores for reading, mathematics, and science are based on a scale of 1 to 5, while the writing exam is scored according to a rubric from 1 to 6.
The percentage of students who scored proficient and above (scoring 3 and above) in reading increased from the previous year for grades 3, and 6 through 10. For mathematics, those scoring proficient and above increased for grades 5, 6, 7, 8, and 10, with 4 percent as the highest percentage increase in 10th graders. Other grades saw a decrease of as much as 2 percent or remained the same.
In science, those scoring proficient and above increased for all three grades that were tested.
Over 90 percent of students in grades 4, 8, and 10 scored three or above in writing scores, with a high of 96 percent in 8th graders.
This year was the first time the Florida Department of Education implemented a new change to the writing exam. In the past, the exam assessed two modes of writing. This year, only one was tested.
Earlier this month, testing results were delayed due to “technology issues with the state’s new testing contractor, NCS Pearson,” reported the Department of Education.
Florida Education commissioner Dr. Eric J. Smith promised that he will address the disparities between performances by elementary school versus middle- and high school grades.
“Reasons for this will vary locally but I am confident that ... at both the state and district level, we will be able to move past this plateau and spark new levels of success in our early grades and beyond,” Smith said.
Students and families can expect to receive individual student score reports by July 8.
