Iowa City students continue test above national average

IOWA CITY - School board members will receive a report Tuesday showing Iowa City students still are scoring above the national average on standarized tests.

The report assesses scores from tests given in October for grades three through 11. It compares the scores with national and historical data from 2011 forward.

The report shows that in reading, math, science, social studies and language arts, Iowa City students scored higher than national standard scores.

The report shows a number of the district's grade cohort scores also are growing at a faster rate than those in the rest of the nation.

'I think the thing that's most significant when we drill down in the data (we see) the longer a student is with us the better they do,” Superintendent Stephen Murley said.

The only Iowa City grade cohort that didn't demonstrate growth last year was 11th-graders in reading. And board president Chris Lynch called that an anomaly.

'It is the one that sticks out and almost doesn't make sense,” he said.

Lynch said the data will be used to help shape the district's comprehensive strategic plan for next year, and he would like to see more focus placed on reading.

'I think it increases profienciency in all education areas,” he said.

Board member Tuyet Baruah said despite the students' success in testing, she doesn't think the district should place too much weight on the scores.

'It's a snapshot in time of a student's performance, and I think there are so many things that make up success for a student or success for a teacher or a school district,” she said.

Other markers of success she referenced included academic, fine arts and athletic awards the district has received.

Nonetheless, Baruah said the high scores benefit the district because they are tied to federal funding and are a reflection of the work of students, teachers and community partners who break down barriers to students getting an education. She referenced several community programs and services such as free medical clinics.

'That's one less barrier to education for them because they can get their health care needs taken care of there,” she said.