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The First End Of Course Exam: Escambia Students Do Well
June 3, 2012
The results are back for Florida’s first “End of Course” exam that partially replaces the FCAT math exam. Beginning this year, ninth graders must pass the algebra EOC exam to graduate.
No matter the student’s grade in their algebra course — even a perfect 100 — the student must pass the end of course exam to receive credit for the class. Students that did not score a proficient 3.0 or higher on a 1-6 scale will have three additional opportunities to take the exam to receive course credit.
In Escambia County, 65 percent of students taking the algebra EOC exam passed, while 64 percent passed in Santa Rosa County.
“The scores indicate progress,” Escambia Superintendent Malcolm Thomas said. “The scores show that the students learn when teachers are teaching a particular subject matter.”
The passing numbers were much higher at the middle school level in Escambia County, where more advanced level eighth grade students take the class for high school credit. At Ernest Ward, Ramsom, Workman, Brown Barge, Woodham and Ferry Pass middle schools, 95 percent or more of eighth grade students passed the exam.
At the high school level, West Florida (77 percent), Tate (70 percent) and Northview (65 percent) had the highest percentage of students passing the algebra exam. The other high schools in the county had between 50 and 60 percent of students to pass.
At Jay High School, which includes both middle and high school students, 56 percent passed.
Comments
4 Responses to “The First End Of Course Exam: Escambia Students Do Well”
This system actually makes more sense than the FCAT. You are taking an exam at the end of the year on what you learned in class. The fact that this is going to replace at least part of the FCAT math requirement is good in my view.
While I don’t like “Hating this’s” attitude, I do agree that a summer school program should be offered to help students who struggle with math and may not have passed the EOC exam. I have one myself. She’s in West Florida High School and has a good math teacher, but she still struggles. Four years of math makes it difficult to make up a class like this, so summer school makes sense in this particular situation. Otherwise, my daughter has good grades and is invested in her education. Summer school with a retake of the exam (if it was failed the first time around) would be a fair compromise to help students get past this new requirement.
I am NOT for lowering standards. I’m with you BPD – all of us (students, parents and teachers) need to step up to the plate and do our part. Such an attitude and response would result in many of our students being much more successful than they are now. This is not going away! Accept and do what it takes to get the kids through it and on to a successful road in life.
Let me also add, these kids are required to have 4 math credits and now with this pass/fail system, they SHOULD be required to offer summer school. I can’t say how FRUSTRATED I am as a parent of a child who is going through this. He isn’t a dumb child, but struggled with the teacher all year long. He went for tutoring, and asked for help, and never got it. And, ECSD won’t even offer a summer school program in the North end of the county. RIDICULOUS to say the least!
“Oooo Lawd, this is so unfair. Why do they actually expect me to learn this stuff. I’ll never need this. Who cares.”
Actually everyone should care. This is the attitude that is causing the US to fall behind in all the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) subjects. Students who excel in the STEM subjects, also excel in life. Occupations that rely on proficiency in the STEM subjects are high paying. Qualified applicants for these jobs are few and far between, because of the before mentioned attitude.
If you want to excel in life, go to class, pay attention, read the book, study, if needed, ask for help and do your best on these tests. This stuff matters. The decisions you make in your youth will dictate your status in society tomorrow.
Those who decide they don’t care will dig the ditches and serve the fries.
B.P.D. for More Education and Less Whining
I can only say how STUPID this is. I absolutely HATE the Escambia County school system. Not to mention a certain 9th grade Algebra teacher who consistently had failing students ALL year….ridiculous to say the least.