Francis Howell School District MAP Test Results

All three high schools in the Francis Howell School District had more than 87 percent of students score proficient on state reading tests in 2011. More than 74 percent of students in the high schools scored proficient or better on the math exam.

Francis Howell North principal Darlene Jones said she is so proud of the improvement in performance on end of course exams.

"It's a testament to our teachers and students," she said.

While in the past the district has seen great improvements in student performance from year to year, as more students score proficient on the test the pace of growth has slowed.

Overall district achievement on the reading test increased with 67.2 percent of students scoring at grade level, up from 65.7 percent last year. In math, 67.8 percent of district students who took the test scored proficient or advanced this year, compared to 66.3 percent last year.

Mary Hendricks-Harris, chief academic officer for Francis Howell School District, said the MAP test is helpful because it has helped raise expectations for students and is a way to measure progress.

"I think having some sort of way you are held accountable is a good thing," she said.

Hendricks-Harris said as soon as the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education releases more detailed data for the MAP tests, teachers will be able to see which areas of instruction may need to change.

Preliminary MAP Test Results

Becky David Elementary

75.3

*The Annual Proficiency Target for math and reading is the percentage of students expected to score proficient or advanced on the state test in a given year.

See the full district MAP test scores on the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education website.

Harvest Ridge, Central to offer tutoring

Of the 10 elementary schools in the district, just two met benchmarks for math and reading tests. John Weldon Elementary met state goals for achievement on the reading test and Warren Elementary met state goals for achievement on the math test.

Only two schools will face sanctions for failing to meet the benchmarks, however.

Harvest Ridge and Central Elementary will now have to offer students the chance to switch to a different school that did meet those goals. The schools will also have to pay for additional tutoring services for students who want it. 

These schools face these sanctions because they receive federal funding through Title 1, which is available to schools with large number of kids with low socioeconomic status.

Although Harvest Ridge didn't meet the state benchmarks, the school saw growth in achievement on the reading test with 53.6 percent of students scoring proficient, up from 52.1 last year.

On the math tests, however, fewer Harvest Ridge students were rated at grade level or higher with 52.9 percent this meeting the mark this year compared to 55.6 percent last year.

Both Harvest Ridge and Central Elementary have planned to meet with parents next week to explain the options for switching schools and offering tutoring.

The meeting is set for at 6 p.m. Aug. 10 at Central Elementary and 6 p.m. Aug. 11 at Harvest Ridge.