State test scores drop this year in Peekskill

Annual state test scores in the Peekskill schools dropped significantly this year, but the district said the results are a reflection of a downturn in the economy and that local students tested as well as other economically disadvantaged and minority students across the state.

State tests were administered in grades three through eight in both math and English. Peekskill scores dropped significantly in seven categories, improved in two and stayed flat in three others.

The biggest declines in the number of students scoring at the proficiency level came in eighth-grade English (down 29%), sixth-grade English (down 16.5%) and third-grade math (down 12%). Eighth-grade math scores increased by 7.9% and fifth-grade math scores rose up by 7.5%.

Students in Peekskill tested proficient in just one category, eighth-grade math, where 57.9% of students scored at the passing level. In all the other categories, a majority of students scored below grade level. Eighth-grade English scores only reached a 27.2% proficiency level, while sixth-grade English scored at 32% proficiency.

“What we are seeing in many ways when we look at these scores for Peekskill is the effect of the economic meltdown,” said incoming Peekskill Superintendent Jim Willis, who began his leadership assignment for the Peekskill schools in early July. “Starting in 2008, many of our families have lost jobs and this has affected their children. Students in affluent districts continue to do well on these standardized tests, while children of diversity and children in poverty, who have suffered the most in this recession, do not,” Willis said.

While district officials decry a lack of resources, the Peekskill schools will spend $72 million in next year’s budget to teach approximately 3,000 students, a per pupil cost of $24,000 each year.

“In addition, Peekskill is entering into the third straight year of drastic cuts in our State aid allocations, which has hindered our ability as a district to bring all the resources we need to bear on educating our children," Willis said. "The State made the tests more challenging and then tied one hand behind our backs as we work to meet the new standards.

“Nevertheless, your School Board and I have an intensified focus on the critical importance of literacy, and we are determined to make the most effective use of the resources we have at hand,” Willis said. “We are analyzing data to identify the students who need intensive assistance, and we are exploring ways to use our technology as intelligently as possible. We want to do the best we can for each child. This is all about ensuring that our students can reach their potential and become contributing citizens and caring adults.”

The statewide tests were more rigorous this year. Across New York state, 52.8% of grade 3-8 students met or exceeded the ELA (English language arts) proficiency standard (a decrease from 53.2% last year); 63.3% met or exceeded the standard in math (up from 61% last year).

The state Department of Education reported that 12.6% of English Language Learners (ELLs) statewide met or exceeded the new ELA proficiency standard (down from 14.3% last year) across grades 3-8; 32.3% of ELLs met or exceeded the standard in math (up from 30.7% last year).

Statewide results for black students reveal the persistence of the achievement gap: 35% of black students across grades 3-8 met or exceeded the ELA proficiency standard (compared with 52.8% for all students and 64.2% for white students); 44% met or exceeded the standard in math (compared with 63.3% for all students and 73.3% for white students).

Statewide results for Hispanic students reveal the persistence of the achievement gap: 37.2% of Hispanic students across grades 3-8 met or exceeded the ELA proficiency standard (compared with 52.8% for all students and 64.2% for white students); 50.2% met or exceeded the standard in math (compared with 63.3% for all students and 73.3% for white students).