Mamaroneck Math Scores for 2003:
Grade 4 Stays High; Small Dip for Grade 8

by Joan Simon

(October 22, 2003) The math scores from last spring's state tests are in -- and the news for 4th graders is good: 93.3% of Mamaroneck students met or exceeded New York state standards. These results are almost identical to last year's 93.2%, and higher than the 88% for all of Westchester and 78% for all of New York State. Eighth graders did less well, with 82% of district students meeting or exceeding state standards, compared with last year's 85%, but significantly above this year's 64% in Westchester and 51% in New York State.

2003 Results of the NY State Math Test
Fourth Grade

Mastery Level Grows at the Elementary Schools

While the number of students passing at the elementary level stayed the same, the percentage of students attaining the highest level of achievement rose to 56.8% from last year's 47.2%. Reflecting on the scores, School Board President Bob Martin noted, “The work with the curriculum has paid off and the gains we have seen in the last couple of years have been sustained at Mamaroneck Ave."

Hommocks Scores Dip

At the Hommocks, both passing and mastery rates were down somewhat this year. Last year 85% passed and 44% exceeded standards, compared to 82% and 36% respectively for this year. The current dip is still a marked improvement over the scores two years ago, when 76% of students achieved level 3 or 4 and 29% level 4.

“Year to year, you expect some fluctuations to occur," commented School Board President Martin. He discussed a number of changes going on at the middle school, including expanding opportunities for advanced level coursework. "What we're going to try to do is to have more and more eighth graders take Course One, the higher level math option," he said.

NY State Math Test
Hommocks Middle School 1998-2003

The Hommocks students outperformed their peers across the County and the State, where Grade 8 scores continue to be significantly lower than those at Grade 4. When asked to explain the discrepancy, SED spokesman Tom Dunn defended the exams and explained that extrapolating results from one level to the next is problematic. “The tests are designed to let teachers, parents and students know where the students stand in meeting the standards," he said.

The NY Board of Regents recently accepted a long list of recommendations for improving its math program, including better coordination and curriculum specificity at all levels. To boost middle school performance, “This is certainly part of what's needed," said Dunn.

Statewide Increases

Statewide, the 4th grade scores improved significantly, with 78% of students passing the test, up from 67.6 percent in 2002. The gain at the middle school level was smaller, improving from a pass rate of 47.7% in 2002 to 51% in 2003. While this was the first year since the tests were introduced in 1999 that more than half of the state's eighth graders passed, the New York Times characterized the results as "grim," and State Education Commissioner Richard Mills said, “New York still has far to go.”

Gains at the elementary level were particularly large in several districts in Westchester, including Yonkers and Port Chester, as well as in New York City. Commissioner Mills hailed the successes, but also had to field questions about the reliability of the tests. After months of criticisms that this year’s high school math tests were too difficult, some skeptics are wondering whether the Grade 4 and Grade 8 tests were too easy, when compared to previous years. (See for example: Dr. Alfred S. Posamentier, Dean of the School of Education at City College).

SED spokesman Dunn said, "We're confident that the test is fair, accurate and consistent with the difficulty level of previous years." He noted that the tests were analyzed in three different ways: two involved psychometric techniques, and one employed a panel of teachers.

For more information on the test scores, see NY State Math Test Results.

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