Outside the Box – Carrie Mizera and Nicole Kelly
During the 2020-21 school year, RSI introduced the Iowa standardized test to the C7, C10, and C13 classes. The Iowa Assessment of Student Progress provide learning assessments in different areas of study, including English Language Arts, math, science, and social studies. Standardized test scores help track student achievement and progress compared with national norms.
Test scores gleaned from C7, C10, and C13 indicate the strengths of the students at RSI. The school results demonstrate that RSI exceeds the national average in achievement and proficiency for all classes tested. The Iowa Assessment is a top-rated, established, national norm-referenced test that measures student learning. The Iowa Assessments are used in all states to gauge student achievement, student growth, assess student college and career readiness, and evaluate mastery of national learning standards. In conjunction with the quarterly RSI assessments, the Iowa Assessment, will continue to be used in grades C7 and up to help students meet their growth potential year-to-year.
The class proficiency results are provided below for English Language Arts, math, and science. Results are displayed for the subject areas tested for each class. The visual charts display the number of students classified on the three proficiency levels based on their standardized Iowa test performance. The data from the Iowa Assessments consistently demonstrate that 94% to 100% of the tested students meet or surpass national standards in English Language Arts, math, science, and social studies. Science was tested in C10 and C13, and social studies was tested in C13 only. The level most consistent with each class and subject area is the Advanced level of achievement for RSI students. In addition, the RSI middle school C13 class surpassed learning benchmarks which the Iowa report validates as college-ready in all subject areas. C13 middle school students have already earned the distinguished status of 100% on track for college readiness in math.
Students that perform at the Advanced level exhibit comprehensive capabilities of the knowledge, skills, and aptitude of requirements for the given grade level associated with academic readiness and mastery in the subject area. Students that perform at the Proficient level exhibit satisfactory capabilities of the knowledge, skills, and aptitude of requirements for the given grade level associated with academic readiness and mastery in the subject area. Students that perform at the Not-yet-Proficient level have not yet demonstrated the knowledge and skills to be classified as proficient.
Comparison to National Averages & Readiness for the RSI High School Dual Enrollment Program
The following bar charts illustrate the average scores for the specific subject domains compared to the percent of students in the same grade with a lower score throughout the nation. The green bars highlight RSI student achievement for each grade level. The Iowa Assessment results align with RSI assessments, advanced student learning, rigorous academics at RSI, and early college readiness in preparation for the RSI High School Dual Enrollment Program at Orange Coast College (beginning freshman year). Measures show that RSI students continually outrank national averages in all tested classes. Furthermore, the RSI middle school class is identified as college-ready in all subjects, with superior strengths in math where the grade level classifies as 100% college-ready.
We are proud of our students and teachers. The students at RSI have continued to excel and grow during this pandemic year. We look forward to another successful year of academic growth, learning, and achievement together at RSI!
