Nevada juniors bomb on high school math test

Terry Webster

Wednesday, Nov. 24, 1999 | 11:13 a.m.

Fifty-one percent of all high school juniors statewide failed the math portion of the High School Proficiency Exam given in October, the Nevada Department of Education announced today. About 27 percent failed the reading portion.

Juniors in the Clark County School District performed about on par with the state, with 49 percent passing math. Thirty-three percent failed the reading portion.

In comparison to last year, the scores represent no drastic changes, State Superintendent of Public Education Mary Peterson said.

"There was a slight improvement in math and a decrease in reading. But we're concerned about both," Peterson said. "The bottom line is these students will have about six more opportunities to take and pass the test before they graduate."

About 800 high school seniors failed to get diplomas last year because they could not pass the test, which was made more difficult.

The statewide average scores on various sections of the math test were: arithmetic, 60.5 percent; measurement and geometry, 60.3 percent; data analysis, probability and statistics, 50.2 percent; algebraic functions, 65.9 percent; conceptual understanding, 60.8 percent; procedural knowledge, 64.3 percent; and problem solving, 51.2 percent.

In order to pass students must get 64 percent of the answers correct on the math test and 75 percent right for reading, Judy Costa, director of testing and evaluation for Clark County School District, said.

"In math we had a tiny bit of improvement. Last fall it was about 47 percent," Costa said. "Reading is a little bit worse. It was about 70 percent."

The proficiency test has been controversial since the Legislature made it more difficult last year. Some parents said students had not been properly prepared for the harder questions. The state Board of Education responded by increasing the requirements for high school graduation, adding a math class to the core courses and setting a minimum number of credits to be advanced to each grade level. Those requirements apply to this year's freshmen and following classes.

In addition, the board voted to require high schools to provide remedial courses to those who fail twice or more. Costa wasn't pleased with the test outcome.

"I'm always concerned with the results," she said. "I want all students to have enough knowledge so they can pass. Hopefully, we will be able to implement enough remedial programs to help make that happen."

The state could help schools remediate students by providing more information in its analysis, Costa said.

"We've requested additional information," she said. "The way we get the results from the state, it isn't really useful. For instance, in the area of data analysis, it would be helpful to know specifically what a student is weak in."