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Highbridge students' test scores rise

By Denae Brewer
Editor in Chief

The results are in – children in Highbridge and the rest of Community School District 9 showed an improvement in this year’s city and state math and reading exams.

The tests were administered in April to examine the proficiency of children in the third through eighth grades. On average, District 9, which has come under fire in the past for its constant lackluster performances on these types of tests, showed a significant improvement over its 2001 scores.

With its 0.4 percent increase on the reading exams and a 4 percent increase on the math exams, Schools Chancellor Harold Levy commended District 9 and its new superintendent, Stanley Mims.

In a letter addressed to Dr. Mims, Mr. Levy wrote: “The district made strong gains in both the English Language Arts and math exams . . . You and your staff are to be congratulated.”

Dr. Mims attributes much of the improvement to the district’s change in attitude and approach to teaching. “We stopped pointing fingers and saying it must be the kids’ fault,” he said. “We’re looking at the data and looking at each individual child’s potential. We realize that the spray-can approach to teaching just doesn’t make it.”

This new attitude is evident in the test scores of the children in all three public schools in Highbridge – C.E.S. 11, C.E.S. 73 and C.E.S. 126 – all of which showed vast improvement.

C.E.S. 11, the Highbridge School, produced the highest gains, up one percentage point in English Language Arts exam, where students have routinely done well over the past four years. More impressive was the school’s math scores, which skyrocketed a whopping 21 percent.

“I credit the hard work and dedication of the school’s principal [Jack Billig] and his staff,” Dr. Mims said. “This school has proven that our children can succeed.”

Over at C.E.S. 73, the children’s reading scores faltered a bit – down 4 percent overall. Dr. Mims has faith in the children. “Although down a bit, I’m not worried.”

Dr. Mims explained how fourth-grade results are a large determining factor in the decision of whether a school is moved into the Chancellor’s District, a program comprised of New York City public schools that have continually proven themselves unable to reach academic standards.

When looking at the number of fourth graders who passed the English Language Arts exam, C.E.S. 73 scores increased 9 percent.

“All in all, their [C.E.S. 73’s] scores are promising,” Dr. Mims said. “I am confident that they will continue to improve.”

While its reading scores are down, C.E.S 73 did improve in math. This year, 26 percent of the school’s third, fourth, and fifth graders who took the math test passed — an 11 percent improvement on last year.

C.E.S. 126, the Dr. Marjorie H. Dunbar School, posted promising scores on both tests — up 2 percent in reading and 6 percent in math. The school has consistently posted improvements over the last four years.

Scored on levels — Levels One and Two are failing while Levels Three and Four are passing — District 9 exhibited remarkable gains. Although the percentage of children in District 9 who passed the tests once again fell below the city’s average, the percentage of those who scored in Level One decreased — five percent in math and four percent in reading.

Individually, some schools may have done well on the tests, but critics agree that collectively, the results could have been better. Citywide, only 39 percent passed the reading exam while 35 percent passed the math.

“The entire district is committed to improvements,” Dr. Mims said. “We are working hard to ensure that in time, the children will meet and exceed academic standards throughout the district.”