Great News!
Student performance showed robust improvement for the 4th consecutive year.
- Significantly more students passed the high-stakes LEAP tests
- In cumulative gains (over four years) the RSD is again #1, and OPSB is #4
- More students met the State proficiency goal of Basic or above
- 8th grade performance soared
Educate Now! analyzed the test scores of all schools under the Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB) and the Recovery School District (RSD), both traditional and charter, to assess the performance of public school students in Orleans Parish.
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Significantly More Students Are Passing LEAP
To pass the LEAP test, students need to score a Basic in English or math and Approaching Basic in the other part.
First-time 4th and 8th grade test takers in New Orleans showed impressive gains and once again improved much more than the State.
- 4th Grade: 70% passed in 2011, versus 65% in 2010 and 49% in 2007
- 8th Grade: 68% passed in 2011, versus 58% in 2010 and 44% in 2007
Percent of Students Passing LEAP
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More Students Are Meeting Louisiana’s Proficiency Goal of Basic or Above
Louisiana’s goal is for all students is to perform Basic or above in all subjects. Basic is considered “grade level” performance. Basic or above roughly equates to an ACT score of 19 or higher. Again, New Orleans showed significant gains.
In 2011:
- RSD schools improved 5 percentage points in the percent of students Basic or above across all grades (3-11) and all subjects (English, math, science and social studies)
- OPSB schools improved 2 percentage points
- The State improved 1 percentage point
From 2007-2011:
- The RSD ranked #1 in cumulative gains, all grades, all subjects
- OPSB ranked #4
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Increase in Percentage Points of Students Basic or Above
(all subjects, all tests)
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Closing the Gap
Before Katrina, New Orleans schools improved at the same rate as the state, never closing the gap between our student test scores and the State average.
- In 2000, New Orleans trailed the State average by 22 percentage points
- In 2005, New Orleans still trailed the State average by 22 percentage points
Today New Orleans is closing the gap.
- In 2011, we’ve reduced the gap to just 8 points
Percent of Students Basic or Above
4th, 8th and 10th Grade Math and English
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2011 Test Highlights
8th grade performance soared:
From 2010 to 2011, the percentage 8th grade students performing Basic or above saw a remarkable 14 point improvement in English and a 12 point improvement in math. Amazing!
4th and 10th grade percent Basic or above improved as well:
4th Grade English: 63% in 2011, up from 56% in 2010 and 44% in 2005
4th Grade Math: 59% in 2011, the same as 2010 and up from 41% in 2005
10th Grade English: 54% in 2011, up from 52% in 2010 and 40% in 2005
10th Grade Math: 63% in 2011, up from 60% in 2010 and 39% in 2005
Percent of Students Basic or Above
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Other Highlights
RSD charters outperformed RSD direct-run schools:
- RSD charters: 51% of students scored Basic or above
- RSD direct-run: 31% of students scored Basic or above
Charter high schools, both RSD and OPSB, are outperforming direct-run high schools.
| GEE 10th and 11th Grade First Time Test Takers | ||
| Type of School | % Basic or Above |
Number of First Time Test Takers |
| OPSB Charter Schools | 72% | 1702 |
| RSD Charter Schools | 62% | 1193 |
| OPSB Direct-run Schools | 60% | 604 |
| RSD Direct-run Schools | 26% | 1113 |
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Conclusions
Louisiana’s school accountability system looks at both current performance and growth (or improvement) over time.
New Orleans is clearly excelling in the improvement category. We have had 4 consecutive years of robust growth and are #1 in the State in growth. This improvement is best exemplified by our 8th grade English performance. In 2005, only 26 out of 100 students tested on grade level in English; this year 59 out of 100 were Basic or above – a 126% improvement!
Yet, 41% of our 8th graders are still performing below grade level in English. As critics are quick to point out, there is still more work to be done.
Prior to the RSD, New Orleans was improving, but no faster than the rest of the State. Since the takeover, New Orleans is growing much more rapidly than the State average. Few schools, much less districts, have been able to show these large gains year after year. Our challenge is to sustain this extraordinary growth and close the achievement gap for all students in New Orleans.
Yes, there is still much work to be done, but we can’t forget to stop and celebrate our accomplishments so far. Educate Now! congratulates the school administrators, teachers and especially the students who have achieved these remarkable results in such a short period of time!
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Sources:
Comparison of Spring 2010 and 2011 Students Meeting Promotional Standard (XLSX)
2010 vs. 2011 Comparison of Students at Basic & Above (XLS)
2007 – 2011 Comparison of Students at Basic & Above (XLSX)
School-level Results (XLS)
Spring 2011 iLEAP State/District/School Achievement Level Summary Report (Number)
Spring 2011 iLEAP State/District/School Achievement Level Summary Report (Percent)
Spring 2011 LEAP/GEE State/District/School Achievement Level Summary Report (Number)
Spring 2011 LEAP/GEE State/District/School Achievement Level Summary Report (Percent)