(posted on December 18, 2009)
Horry County Schools’ students made improvements in the mean scale scores on two of four End-of-Course test scores in 2009. Mean scale scores improved in Algebra I and Physical Science, while dipping slightly in English I. This year marks the second year of administration, and the first year of reported data, for United States History and Constitution.
On all four tests, HCS outpaced the State’s mean scale score. The percentage of students who did not pass tests improved from last year, as the percentage of students who made an A or B declined in three areas. More students passed tests this year, but more earned a C or a D than last year.
State-issued End-of-Course tests are administered in English, Algebra I, Physical Science, and United States History and Constitution at the end of semester and count as 20 percent of a student’s final course grade. Results are also are used to as a part of the State’s school accountability system.
Mandated by the Education Accountability Act of 1998, the statewide examination program began with Algebra I testing in 2003-2004 with English I and Physical Science following a year later. The United States History and Constitution test was added for the first time in 2007-2008.
For HCS students, the 2008-2009 grade distribution for English I was 10.6 percent A, 17.1 percent B, 26.1 percent C, 21 percent D and 25.2 percent F. Grade distribution for algebra was 19.0 percent A, 17.4 percent B, 26.9 percent C, 21.7 percent D and 14.9 percent F. Grade distribution for physical science was 12.9 percent A, 12.8 percent B, 19.9 percent C, 19.3 percent D and 35.1 percent F. Grade distribution for United States History and Constitution was 2.0 percent A, 3.7 percent B, 15.3 percent C, 22.2 percent D, and 56.8 percent F.
Statewide the 2008-2009 grade distribution for English I was 10.2 percent A, 15 percent B, 23.7 percent C, 19.5 percent D and 31.6 percent F. Grade distribution for algebra was 16.1 percent A, 15.7 percent B, 23.5 percent C, 21.9 percent D and 22.8 percent F. (Students enrolled in an Algebra I and Mathematics for the Technologies II course take the Algebra I end-of-course exam; content standards are the same.)
Grade distribution for physical science was 10.5 percent A, 10.1 percent B, 16.6 percent C, 18.2 percent D and 44.5 percent F. The United States History and Constitution grade distribution was 2 percent A, 5.1 percent B, 14.6 percent C, 20.8 percent D and 57.6 percent F.
Under South Carolina’s uniform grading scale, an A is 93-100; a B is 85-92; a C is 77-84; and a D is 70-76. Anything 69 or below is an F.
Highlights of 2009 results included:
- English I - English I test results decreased slightly at the district and state levels in 2008-2009. For HCS, the mean scale score slipped from 77.9 to 77.1. At the State level, the mean score decreased eight-tenths of a point from 76.3 to 75.5. The percentage of students scoring either an A or B decreased from 30.9 to 27.7 for HCS and from 27.5 to 27.2 at the state level. The percentage of HCS students failing the exam increased from 22.1 to 25.2. At the State level, the percentage of students failing the exam remained the same at 31.6 percent.
- Algebra I – Thirty-six and four-tenths percent of HCS students tested in algebra scored an A or a B in 2008-2009, compared to 31.8 percent at the state level. The District’s mean score improved seven-tenths of a point to 81.3 from 80.8 last year. At the State level, the mean scale score was 79.1, the same as last year. Grade distribution was mixed compared to the previous year. Fewer HCS students scored either an A, B, or F as the percent of students earning a C or D grew slightly.
- Physical Science - The mean scale score for HCS students improved by two-tenths of a point, from 75.2 to 75.4. As with English I, fewer students made an A, B or F, as more students earned a C or D. At the State level, the mean improved four-tenths points, going from 72.1 to 72.5. Fewer HCS students recorded either an A, B or F, as the numbers grew slightly in the percentage of students making a C or D.
- U.S. History and the Constitution: With the first year of reported data, the newest EOC test becomes a part of the State’s school accountability system. The mean scale score for HCS is 69.5, compared to 69.4 at the State level. Fewer HCS students, 5.7 percent, made either an A or a B, compared to 7.1 percent at the State level. Fewer HCS students failed the test compared to State results. An eight-tenths variance shows that 56.8 of HSC students failed the test, compared to 57.6 the State.
For complete results, visit www.ed.sc.gov.
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