South Callaway Elementary MAP scores show students move to next level

South Callaway fourth grade students Erika Creason and Kara Evans read a short biography in their reading text book during class Thursday.
South Callaway fourth grade students Erika Creason and Kara Evans read a short biography in their reading text book during class Thursday.

MOKANE, Mo. - South Callaway Elementary School Principal Corey Pontius said the school has cut the percentage of students scoring below the basic level on the Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) tests in half.

"We're moving a lot of those kids that have scored below basic in the past," Pontius said. "We're moving them to the next level. That's the objective as we continue - the growth of those students."

The elementary school's percentage of students who scored proficient or better remained mostly steady this year from last. In math, the school's third-grade class saw a decrease in the percentage of students scoring below basic from 2013-14. The grade level's percentage dropped from 7.1 to either zero or a number too small to report, according to the Missouri Department of Education's achievement level reports. Furthermore, the third grade's percentage of students scoring basic in math increased from 37.5 percent to 41.5 percent from 2013-14. And the percent of third-graders scoring proficient decreased from 51.8 percent to 36.9 percent, while the percent scoring advanced increased from a number too low to report to 20 percent.

South Callaway R-2 School District Superintendent Kevin Hillman described the district's MAP scores as trending up. There's been a lot of work to try to raise scores overall, Hillman said. Schools in the district have been examining the numbers for each class and for each student.

Pontius said the school uses the test scores along with other assessments all year long to determine how each student is learning. Pontius said all of the data is important. The school doesn't just examine one piece of information.

"We want a complete picture at how prepared our students are to move on to the next level," Pontius said.

The elementary school's third- and fourth-grade classes had an increase in the percentage of students scoring proficient or better in English/language arts. The fifth grade had a decrease in the percent of students scoring proficient and an increase in the percent students scoring advanced.

The elementary school, Pontius said, devotes a lot of time and resources to English and language arts.

"It is an area that over the course of time we have had a lot of success stories, but we have a group of teachers chomping at the bit that want to get better each and every day," Pontius said. "They're never going to be satisfied, and that's a good thing because we've got to continue to get better."

Literacy program review

South Callaway's Early Childhood Learning Center, Elementary School and Middle School are reviewing their literacy programs this year. The school district routinely reviews all of its curriculum. Pontius said the last time the elementary school took an in-depth look at the literacy program was about five years ago.

"We are going to take a look to make sure what we have in place meets the needs of our students. We do that periodically in all of our content areas," Pontius said.

The district will use test scores, standards and other assessments to review the reading program.

South Callaway Elementary School reading teacher Bryan McKay said reading skills are something that can and should be built from a young age. He said the school's reading curriculum works to build an enjoyment for reading as well the skill for it.

"We teach the skill," McKay said, "(And) we also teach the love of reading."

Pontius said the school doesn't spend more time on English language arts than it does on other subjects. However, he added that English language arts has always been and will always be a focus for the school.

"That's the tool they use in every class - reading and writing skills," Pontius said.