O'Neill Public Schools Improve

Preformance On NESA Reading Scores

The NESA (Nebraska State Assessment) scores for the 2010-11 school year have been released, and O'Neill Public Schools improved their performance on the NESA reading in all grades but one, over the 2009-10 year.  Proficiency at the third grade level improved by 11.85%, at the fifth grade level improved by .19%, at the sixth  grade level by 25.98%, at the seventh grade level by 7.21%, 8^th grade 4.41%, and 11^th grade by 4.5%.  The fourth grade was the only class that showed a decline in the number of students meeting proficiency with 60% of last year's students meeting or exceeding standards and 68% the previous year.  As a class their proficiency percentage increased over their third grade year by 11% which was a good improvement.  The district's staff and students continue to work hard to improve student learning in all areas.  

Last year the district implemented a new reading program to provide each student with instruction that met their learning needs, and are encouraged by the results after one year.  Although scores improved in most grade levels, scores in third, fourth  and seventh grade were still below the state average.  This is something we will continue to work on.  The goal of all of our staff is that students will be prepared for the challenges they will meet at the next level, whether that is the next grade level or in college and beyond.  I am proud of the hard work that our staff and students engage in every day, and am encouraged by the progress in our reading scores.

This was the first year for the NESA math assessment, so scores are baseline and will be used to measure improvement over time.  The results of the initial NeSA math assessment for O'Neill Public Schools are as follows:  third grade - 61% meet or exceed standards, fourth  grade - 76% meet or exceed standards, fifth  grade - 70% meet or exceed standards, sixth grade - 69% meet or exceed standards, seventh grade - 64% meet or exceed standards, 8^th grade - 49% meet or exceed standards, and 11^th grade - 60% meet or exceed standards.  These scores were better than the state average except for grades three and eight.  We will look closely at our eighth  grade curriculum and make sure that we are covering all of the state standards adequately as we move forward this year.

Last year's 11^th graders (this year's seniors) scored above the state average in both reading and math and will enjoy a half day off the Wednesday before Thanksgiving for their efforts.  Mr. Brosz and Mrs. Widner worked hard to emphasize the importance of students giving their best efforts on these assessments last year, and that appears to have paid off.

Last year students piloted the NESA science test, which will be given to determine baseline scores in the spring of this year along with the NeSA reading and math assessments.  The NeSA tests are designed to measure student progress toward mastery of state standards, and are the same for all schools statewide.  O'Neill Public Schools will continue to strengthen their curriculum and teaching strategies to engage students in authentic learning experiences that will serve them well in their futures.  The importance of parent engagement and participation cannot be over emphasized either.  Please work together with your child's teachers to make his or her education the best it can be.  Students' individual scores should be sent to parents within the week.

Measuring student achievement is complicated.  It is important not to rely upon one test score to make decisions about educational progress.  Rather it is best to rely upon multiple sources of information to obtain a more accurate portrayal of student achievement and improvement.  While NESA scores are helpful, they are only one source of information.  Our staff will be analyzing all achievement data as they make curriculum and instruction decisions in the future.