MADISON COUNTY — After a several-weeks delay to re-check and fix issues with test scores, the Indiana Department of Education recently released 2018 spring ISTEP results.

The results show students at South Madison Community School Corp. and Frankton-Lapel Community Schools tested above state averages in most categories.

However, leaders in both districts say there is, as always, room for improvement.

The test results are important because they gauge how well students are doing and compare around the state, are used to calculate districts’ overall letter grade and help determine how well educators are doing their jobs.

State averages for third through eighth grades show 64.1 percent of all students passed in English/language arts components earlier this year. That figure is down from 65.2 percent in 2017.

Math data indicates third- through eighth-graders passed at a 58.3 percent rate in 2018, down slightly from the 58.5 percent mark in 2017.

The 2018 state percentage for students passing both English and math is 50.7 percent, compared to 51.4 percent passing both in 2017.

Results statewide for 10th-graders passing English/Language Arts is 58.9 percent in 2018 compared to 60.5 percent in 2017. Math data shows 36.2 percent of 10th-graders passed in 2018 compared to 36.8 percent in 2017, while 33.7 percent passed both English and math in 2018 compared to 34.3 percent in 2017.

Overall district results for South Madison students show 73.1 percent of the district’s third through eighth-graders passed English/Language arts, 71.1 percent passed math while 62.8 percent passed both.

A further breakdown of district numbers shows last year’s eighth-graders generating in the best results, with 77 percent passing English/Language arts, 76.1 percent passing math and 68.3 percent passed both.

The district’s third-graders last year also performed solidly, with 77.2 percent passing English/Language arts, 70.9 percent passing math and 64.2 percent passed both.

South Madison 10th-graders passed English/Language arts at a clip of 62.7 percent, but were measured at 34.4 percent passing math and 31 percent passing both. The later two figures are below the state average.

Overall, district officials said they are pleased with student performance on the tests, assistant superintendent Mark Hall said.

District students performed above the state average on 18 of 19 tests. The only exception being Math 10 which was slightly below the state average for the first time since the DOE implemented the newer test in 2015.

District officials will analyze student data and use the information to guide their instructional practices as they transition into the new I-LEARN assessment program, which will replace ISTEP in grades 3-8 this spring, Hall said.

At the high school level, the focus is starting to shift toward the new Graduation Pathway’s requirements that will replace the ISTEP+ 10 graduation requirement beginning with the Class or 2023.

For Lapel elementary school, students in third through fifth grades passed English/Language arts at a 70.8 percent clip, passed math at 69.8 percent and passed both at 59.1 percent.

The figures include a high mark for Lapel fifth-graders in math passing at a 78.9 percent rate.

Lapel middle school students included the eighth grade class getting 70.2 percent in English/Language arts, 59.9 percent in math, and 49.6 percent passing both.

Scores for 10th-graders at Lapel Senior High were 64 percent passing English/Language arts, 44.1 percent passing math and 39.6 percent passing both, all above state averages.

Educators said it’s important to remember when looking at scores that the state implemented more rigorous Indiana Academic Standards in 2014 for English/language arts and mathematics that have knocked scores lower over the past four years.

[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”By the numbers” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]

STATE WIDE NUMBERS: 

10th-graders 

ELA 58.9 percent 2017-18

ELA 60.5 percent 2016-17 

Math 36.2 percent 2017-18

Math 36.8 percent 2016-17 

Passing both 33.7 percent 2017-18 

Passing both 34.3 percent 2016-17

Lapel High School 10th-graders 

ELA 64 percent 

Math 44.1 percent 

Passing both 31.0 percent 

Pendleton Heights High School-10th graders

ELA 62.7 percent 

Math 34.7 percent 

Passing both 31.0 percent  

STATE WIDE 3rd through 8th-graders:

ELA 64.1 percent 2017-18

ELA 65.2 percent 2016-17

Math 58.3 percent 2017-18

Math 58.5 percent 2016-17

Passing both 50.7 percent 2017-18

Passing both 51.4 percent 2016-17 

Lapel Elementary third through fifth-graders

ELA 70.8 percent 

Math 69.8 percent 

Passing Both 59.1 percent

Lapel Middle School sixth-eighth-graders 

ELA 74.6 percent 

Math 58.1 percent 

Passing Both 52.3 percent 

South Madison third through eighth-graders 

ELA 73.1 percent 

Math 71.1 percent 

Passing Both 62.8 percent 

[sc:pullout-text-end]