[StBernard] Test scores improve nearly across the board in St. Bernard

[Westley Annis]

Test scores improve nearly across the board in St. Bernard
Posted by St. Bernard bureau July 31, 2007 9:12PM
St. Bernard bureau 

Spring test scores for students in St. Bernard Parish public schools were
better almost across the board compared with spring 2006, data released by
the state Department of Education shows. 

The number of fourth-graders scoring at the "basic" level or better on the
LEAP tests this spring dropped to 60 percent from 65 percent in spring 2006.
But in math, 72 percent of fourth-graders scored at basic or better, six
percentage points better than in spring 2006. 

And English and math scores for eighth- and 10th-graders were better this
spring than in 2006, the data shows. 

Students in fourth and eighth grade took the LEAP, or Louisiana Educational
Assessment Program. Students in 10th grade took the Graduation Exit Exam,
known as the GEE. 

Since Hurricane Katrina, educators in St. Bernard Parish have worked from a
patchwork of refurbished facilities. In 2005-2006, a lone public school, the
St. Bernard Unified School, served students in all grades. 

Last school year, students in seventh through 12th grades attended Chalmette
High School and students in prekindergarten through sixth grade attended
Andrew Jackson. 

Bev Lawrason, assistant superintendent of St. Bernard schools, said the
district hopes to see continued gains. . 

"The scores did improve over the previous year, but we still have some work
to do," she said. "Our focus now is moving from recovery to teaching and
learning."