Tri-parish schools hold their own in LEAP, GEE

Trying to see how different schools stack up on standardized testing? School-by-school scores for the high stakes Louisiana Education Assessment Program test and the Graduation Exit Exam were released Monday.

In previous years, fourth and eighth grade students had to score “approaching basic” achievement levels in English and mathematics.

Policy changes to the LEAP exam, which determines whether students advance to the fifth and ninth grades, were made for fourth grade students in 2004 and for eighth graders in 2006.

The changes mandated that students must score at least “basic” in one of two subjects – English or math – and at least “approaching basic” in the other two subjects.

Students who score below the state’s proficiency level during spring testing were offered free summer school courses and an opportunity to retest. According to Paul G. Pastorek, the state’s goal is for all students to perform at “basic” or above academic standards by the year 2014.

To be eligible to graduate from high school, students taking the GEE must score at the “approaching basic” level or above in English and math, and either science or social studies.

The following results represent the top performing schools, which had the highest percentage of students scoring “basic,” “mastery” or “advanced” on the fourth and eighth grade LEAP exam and the GEE in Lafourche, Terrebonne and St. Mary parishes.

Fourth Grade LEAP

In Lafourche Parish, the top two scoring schools achieving “basic,” “mastery” and “advanced” were Chackbay Elementary, with 92 percent; and Bayou Beouf School, which had 85 percent.

In Terrebonne Parish, the top two scoring schools were Oakshire Elementary, with 91 percent; and Mulberry Elementary School, with 85 percent.

In St. Mary Parish, the top two scoring schools were Wyandotte Elementary School, with 85 percent; and Baldwin Elementary School, which had 75 percent.

Eighth Grade LEAP

In Lafourche Parish, the top two scoring schools achieving basic, mastery and advanced were Sixth Ward Middle, with 74 percent; and Larose Cut Off Middle School, which had 68 percent.

In Terrebonne Parish, the top two scoring schools achieving basic, mastery and advanced were Montegut Middle, with 79 percent; and Lacache Middle School, which had 57 percent.

In St. Mary Parish, the top two scoring schools achieving basic, mastery and advanced were Berwick Junior High, with 75 percent; and Centerville High School, which had 68 percent.

GEE (10th – 12th grade)

In Lafourche Parish, the top two scoring schools were South Lafourche High, with 71 percent; and Thibodaux High, which 61 percent.

In Terrebonne Parish, South Terrebonne High, with 61 percent, and Terrebonne High School, 57 percent, were the high scorers.

In St. Mary Parish, Berwick High, with 80 percent, and Morgan City High, with 66 percent, led the list.

The following is a subject-by-subject comparison of the top performing schools that had the highest percentage of students scoring “basic,” “mastery” or “advanced” on the fourth and eighth grade LEAP and GEE in Lafourche, Terrebonne and St. Mary parishes:

Fourth Grade

Lafourche Parish’s Chackbay Elementary School led all four categories: English, 87 percent; math, 92 percent; science, 94 percent; and social studies, 97 percent.

In Terrebonne Parish: Oakshire Elementary School led with English, 89 percent; math, 88 percent; science, 88 percent; and social studies, 97 percent.

St. Mary Parish’s Wyandotte Elementary School led English, with 84 percent; math, 84 percent; science, 93 percent; and social studies, with 82 percent.

Eighth Grade

Lafourche Parish’s Sixth Ward Middle School was top with English, 76 percent; math, 78 percent; science, 74; and social studies, 71 percent.

In Terrebonne Parish, Montegut Middle School led English, with 82 percent; math, 75 percent; science, 84 percent; social studies, 76 percent.

St. Mary Parish’s Berwick Junior High led with 79 percent, English; math, 73 percent; science, 76 percent; and social studies, 73 percent.

GEE (10th – 12th grade)

English

In St. Mary Parish, the top scoring school achieving basic, mastery and advanced was Berwick High School, with 72 percent.

Mathematics

South Lafourche High School led in Lafourche Parish with English, 68 percent; math, 76 percent; science, 72 percent; and social studies, 70 percent.

In Terrebonne Parish, South Terrebonne High School scored 58 percent in English; math, 61 percent; science, 69 percent; social studies, 67 percent.

In St. Mary Parish, Berwick High School students scored 72 percent proficiency in English; 91 percent, math; 79 percent, science; and in social studies, 78 percent of the students scored “basic” or higher.

School-by-school test results for LEAP and GEE are now available on the Department of Education’s Web site at www.louisianaschools.net.