Monday, March 26, 2012

Seattle Grade Inflation : Middle School Math

This is an update to January 4, 2011 on this subject.

From SPS School reports on 8th graders ready for high school math from the Official SPS School Report cards

Reliability of school evaluation as ready for High School math calculated by WA State 8th grade MSP Math pass rate divided by Percent ready for high school math.

Tables sorted by Low Income % from smallest to highest
which shows connection to greater grade inflation as school poverty increases.

SY 2009-2010
School ...... MSP :Ready HS : reliability : LowIncome %
Eckstein ..... 84.1 ..... 92 ::...:: 0.91 ::: 15.2
Whitman ... 74.8 ..... 83 ::...:: 0.90 ::: 24.7
Hamilton ... 62.1 ..... 77 ::...:: 0.81 ::: 35.2
Denny ........ 56.9 ..... 76 ::...:: 0.75 ::: 64.4
Mercer ....... 57.0 ..... 86 ::...:: 0.66 ::: 75.4
Aki Kurose .. 34.8 ..... 73 ::...:: 0.48 ::: 82.3


SY 2010-2011
School ...... MSP ::Ready HS : reliability : LowIncome %
Eckstein ..... 80.1 ..... 97 ::...:: 0.83 ::: 22.1
Hamilton ... 70.8 ..... 85 ::...:: 0.83 ::: 27.5
Whitman ... 66.4 ..... 86 ::...:: 0.77 ::: 29.4
Denny ........ 66.8 ..... 92 ::...:: 0.73 ::: 67.3
Mercer ....... 60.7 ..... 87 ::...:: 0.70 ::: 77.3
Aki Kurose .. 36.4 ..... 77 ::...:: 0.47 ::: 87.1

So what's up at Aki Kurose?

Looks like perhaps there is Admin pressure to give higher grades than warranted.

2010-2011 36.4% pass 8th grade MSP ... but District says 77% ready for high school math in grade 9

2009-2010 34.8% pass 8th grade MSP ... but District says 73% ready for high school math in grade 9.

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Is the plan of the SPS to use inflated grades to deceive parents about their child's level of math achievement?
So what does ready for high school math mean?

Now it is clear why the SPS adopted "Discovering Algebra". Too few students are ready for high school math.

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Lets take a look at low income student 8th grade MSP Math pass rates.
MSP MATH
SY 2009-2010
School MSP :: Low Income Student Math pass rate
Eckstein 84.1 .................. 61.1
Whitman 74.8 .................. 48.5
Hamilton 62.1 .................. 35.6
Denny 56.9 .................. 46.8
Mercer 57 .................. 47.1
Aki K 34.8 .................. 32.4
ALL Students

SY 2010-2011
School MSP :: Low Income Student Math pass rate
Eckstein 80.1 .................. 54.4
Hamilton 70.8 .................. 46.1
Whitman 66.4 .................. 38
Denny 66.8 .................. 59.9
Mercer 60.7 .................. 55.8
Aki K 36.4 .................. 36