Increasing our test scores

Kristie JonesWeb 2.0

St. Pius X School, located two and a half miles south of Towson, is an elementary school with a current enrollment of approximately 365 students, about 65% of whom are Catholic. We offer both half day and full day Three and Four Year Old Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten as well as grades one to eight. Usually those students who apply to Catholic high schools are accepted and we generally have several students that are awarded scholarships to the various high schools. Our standardized test scores are consistently high.

St. Pius X School follows the curriculum guides of both the State of Maryland and the Archdiocese of Baltimore. We exceed these guidelines by offering a foreign language (Spanish) five days a week to students in grades six through eight and a math program that challenges students in both a standard and advanced Algebra I course. Students attend Physical Education, Spanish, Music, Art, Library and Computer classes.

St. Pius X School is Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Association accredited.The distinctive purpose of St. Pius X School is to provide educational opportunities that will lead to a fuller humanity and Christianity - to provide opportunities for intellectual excellence and spiritual development. We intend that the learning experiences offered here will serve as an introduction to a complete lifestyle which takes its meaning and direction from the Christian Community.

Standardized test scores are not the only measure of a school’s quality. These tests are designed to assess an individual student’s performance compared to all students nationally. They do not compare a school’s quality to other schools. Many other factors should affect your decision about which school your child should attend, including: educational philosophy, curriculum quality, teacher credentials, class size, location, cost, availability of resources, discipline policy, opportunities for parental involvement and communications.

Our students take the following standardized tests: · Stanford 10– This multiple choice test is taken every Spring by all students in grades 3 through 8. · ACRE Exam(Religion)– This test is taken every Fall by all students in grades 5 and 8.

Stanford 10 Scores

The Tenth Edition of the Stanford Achievement Test is given to all students

in grades 3 through 8 every Spring. It measures students’ performance in

reading, language arts, mathematics, spelling, science and social science. All

of the items on the Stanford 10 evaluate either Basic Understanding or Thinking

Skills. Scores on the Stanford 10 are calculated using national norms. This

means that students’ scores are compared to the scores of all students

nationally who took the same exam. The national average is the 50th

percentile.

Grade 3 Language Arts

Reading Language Arts Spelling Listening Skills Thinking Skills

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10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

52 50

62

54 555561

71

54

63

20092010

3rd Graders at St. Pius X

► Our 3rd graders ranked on or above National Average percentile in all sub categories.

►In Language Arts the scores went up 11 points overall in one year.

►Our students showed significant growth in Spelling and Thinking skills

Our Goal

►To increase Reading and Listening Skills by 5 points.

►To continue to make steady growth in all other categories.

►To continue to challenge all of our students with higher thinking level activities.

Now what?

►Increase Analytical thinking activities

in all subject areas.

►Create more listening based lessons in all subject areas.

For the Teachers

►Administration will provide continuous opportunities for Professional Development days for all Teachers in the areas needed.

►Teachers will be given stipends to find other Professional Development opportunites outside of school.

What type of things have you done to increase standardized test scores for your school?

Let's all work together to give our students the best education possible.

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