Rocky View Schools (RVS) students posted strong marks across the board in the past school year, as the 2010-11 provincial achievement test and diploma exam results for the province were released last week.
Provincial achievement tests (PAT) for grades 3, 6 and 9, as well as Grade 12 diploma exams reveal that more local public school students met Acceptable and Excellence standards than their counterparts across Alberta.
Superintendent of Schools Greg Bass credits the efforts and focus of school communities for ensuring students’ success, but noted that provincial tests provide only part of the overall picture concerning the performance of RVS students.
“Alberta Education’s assessment tools are designed to measure student achievement in relation to provincial standards,” said Bass. “However, many important learning outcomes cannot be measured by time-limited paper-and-pencil tests. In fact, several factors need to be weighed to get an accurate picture, such as school-awarded marks or classroom assessments, aligned with the competencies of a 21st Century learner.”
“We’re using 1990s testing to try and evaluate learning in 2010-11,” said board chair Bruce Pettigrew. “We are subjecting students to tests that don’t match the curriculum. What’s the purpose?”
“This is only one measure and we don’t necessarily want to rank schools in that manner,” said Don Thomas, Ward 3 trustee. “But these are great results and there are good things in the process.
Alberta Education expects 85 per cent of students to meet an acceptable standard on both achievement tests and diploma exams. The province further expects 15 per cent of students will achieve a standard of excellence.
Bass said RVS’ Grade 12 results are exceptional, with students meeting or exceeding provincial standards in nine out of 11 diploma exams at the acceptable level and 10 out of 11 at the excellence level. Outstanding performance occurred in Chemistry 30 where RVS students exceeded provincial results by 10.4 per cent.
PAT results also meet or exceeded provincial expectations at the acceptable level in 16 of 20 tests reported. Particular strengths were observed in English Language Arts 3 and 6, French Language Arts 6, Math 6 in French, and Science 6 in French.
An area of improvement was noted at the standard of excellence level.
“Overall, I am very pleased with this year’s progress,” Bass said. “Results are a testament to the success we are experiencing as a 21st Century learning organization, where students are engaged, enriched and empowered.”
“It’s pleasing to see good positive results,” said Ward 4 Trustee Helen Clease. “We are better than the provincial average and higher in almost every area.”
“I’m really pleased to look at this as an instrument to improve,” said Sylvia Eggerer, Ward 3 trustee.
