Union County students demonstrated significant gains in writing on 2010 PASS (Palmetto Assessment of State Standards) testing according to data released by school officials Friday.

Last March, students in grades 3-8 took the state writing test, and in May these same students were tested in English language arts reading and research, mathematics, science, and social studies. According to district officials, the percentage of students scoring exemplary in these subject areas increased in 19 of 30 categories.

First administered in 2009, PASS replaced PACT (Palmetto Achievement Challenge Test) as the South Carolina elementary and middle school measurement for federal and state accountability. PASS results are divided into three categories as defined below:

Exemplary – The student demonstrated exemplary performance in meeting the grade level standard.

Met – The student met the grade-level standard.

Not met – The student did not meet the grade-level standard.

Students scoring met and exemplary are included in calculations for passing. More Union County students met the criteria for passing writing than in any other subject area with percentages increasing in grades 3, 5, 6, and 8. The percentage of students scoring exemplary in grades 3 and 6 increased in all five subject areas. Student performance in English language arts reading and research resulted in the greatest improvement across grade levels with increases in the percentage of students scoring exemplary in grades 3 through 7. Student performance in exemplary also increased at four of six grade levels in mathematics and in science.

Performance in most areas was strongest at the elementary grades. Similar to state performance, fewer gains were made at the district level in social studies than in any other area while science continues to be the area in which our students struggle most.

Individual PASS student reports will be distributed at registration at each elementary and middle school. At that time, teachers, guidance counselors, and administrators will be available to explain scores to students and their parents or guardians.

PASS Results By Subject

Writing – The writing test for each grade level included multiple-choice questions and one extended-response (essay) item. Third graders had the highest “passing” percentage of students meeting the standard– 70.8 percent. The seventh-grade passing score was lowest at 46.9 percent.

English language arts (reading and research) – The ELA test includes multiple-choice questions based on reading passages. Third graders had the highest passing percentage at 77.0 percent. Grade 8 was lowest at 52.0 percent.

Mathematics – The math test contained only multiple-choice items. Grade 4 had the best passing rate at 75.2 percent. Grade 7 was lowest at 62.8 percent.

Science – The eighth-grade passing rate of 64.3 percent was highest on this multiple-choice test. Grade 6 was lowest at 48.9 percent.

Social studies – This test also contained only multiple-choice questions. Grade 4 had the best passing rate at 75.7 percent while Grade 7 was lowest at 47.2 percent.

Exemplary Performance

Third grade had the highest percentage of students scoring at the exemplary level – 52.6 percent for English language arts. Students in grades 4 and 7 recorded the smallest percentage of exemplary scores in a single subject area– 7.4 percent in Grade 4 science and 7.8 percent in Grade 7 writing.

In addition to English language arts, Grade 3 had the highest percentage of exemplary level scores in three other subjects – writing (32.9 percent), mathematics (34.8 percent), and social studies (35.9 percent). Grade 8 had the highest percentage at the exemplary scoring level for science (22.8 percent).

Comparison Of Union County 2010  Results For All Students To 2009 Results

Grade 3

Writing – 70.8 percent Met or showed Exemplary performance in meeting the grade-level standard up from 59.1 percent.

ELA (reading and research) – 77.0 percent Met or showed Exemplary performance in meeting the grade-level standard up from 70.9 percent.

Mathematics – 68.7 percent Met or showed Exemplary performance in meeting the grade-level standard down from 62.5 percent.

Science – 55.6 percent Met or showed Exemplary performance in meeting the grade-level standard down from 52.3 percent.

Social Studies – 72.4 percent Met or showed Exemplary performance in meeting the grade-level standard down from 78.5 percent.

Grade 4

Writing – 66.2 percent Met or showed Exemplary performance in meeting the grade-level standard down from 67.6 percent.

ELA (reading and research) – 68.6 percent Met or showed Exemplary performance in meeting the grade-level standard up from 71.6 percent.

Mathematics – 75.2 percent Met or showed Exemplary performance in meeting the grade-level standard up from 74.2 percent.

Science – 63.3 percent Met or showed Exemplary performance in meeting the grade-level standard down from 64.0 percent.

Social Studies – 75.7 percent Met or showed Exemplary performance in meeting the grade-level standard down from 76.9 percent.

Grade 5

Writing – 68.6 percent Met or showed Exemplary performance in meeting the grade-level standard up from 62.6 percent.

ELA (reading and research) – 74.4 percent Met or showed Exemplary performance in meeting the grade-level standard up from 73.9 percent.

Mathematics – 65.0 percent Met or showed Exemplary performance in meeting the grade-level standard up from 61.2 percent.

Science – 59.9 percent Met or showed Exemplary performance in meeting the grade-level standard down from 60.5 percent.

Social Studies – 53.6 percent Met or showed Exemplary performance in meeting the grade-level standard down from 54.0 percent.

Grade 6

Writing – 65.6 percent Met or showed Exemplary performance in meeting the grade-level standard up from 60.7 percent.

ELA (reading and research) – 63.9 percent Met or showed Exemplary performance in meeting the grade-level standard. No change from 2009.

Mathematics – 66.4 percent Met or showed Exemplary performance in meeting the grade-level standard down from 68.7 percent.

Science – 48.9 percent Met or showed Exemplary performance in meeting the grade-level standard up from 54.5 percent.

Social Studies – 74.9 percent Met or showed Exemplary performance in meeting the grade-level standard up from 68.8 percent.

Grade 7

Writing – 46.9 percent Met or showed Exemplary performance in meeting the grade-level standard up from 56.2 percent.

ELA (reading and research) – 53.9 percent Met or showed Exemplary performance in meeting the grade-level standard up from 59.6 percent.

Mathematics – 62.8 percent Met or showed Exemplary performance in meeting the grade-level standard up from 65.5 percent.

Science – 59.3 percent Met or showed Exemplary performance in meeting the grade-level standard down from 67.0 percent.

Social Studies – 47.2 percent Met or showed Exemplary performance in meeting the grade-level standard up from 54.6 percent.

Grade 8

Writing – 67.1 percent Met or showed Exemplary performance in meeting the grade-level standard up from 60.4 percent.

ELA (reading and research) – 52.0 percent Met or showed Exemplary performance in meeting the grade-level standard down from 63.1 percent.

Mathematics – 63.4 percent Met or showed Exemplary performance in meeting the grade-level standard up from 64.7 percent.

Science – 64.3 percent Met or showed Exemplary performance in meeting the grade-level standard down from 60.5 percent.

Social Studies – 60.1 percent Met or showed Exemplary performance in meeting the grade-level standard down from 64.6 percent.