Math still puzzling high school students

Monday, March 20, 2000 | 11:18 a.m.

Sample tests

To find sample questions of the state's High School Proficiency Test on the Internet, go to www.nsn.k12.nv.us/nvdoe/ and click on the "New Academic Standards and Practice High School Proficiency Exams" link. Links for sample reading and math questions are at the bottom of the page.

RENO -- More than 3,000 Nevada high school seniors are in danger of not graduating this June because they can't pass the math proficiency test.

"We're already getting calls from concerned parents who want to know what they can do," Keith Rheault, deputy state superintendent of public instruction, said.

The state Department of Education Saturday released the results of the February examinations in math and reading which students must pass in order to graduate.

In math, 65 percent of the 4,955 who took the most recent examination failed. In reading, 50 percent of 1,955 taking the test failed. Students will have one more chance to take the test before graduation.

Juniors and seniors have had six opportunities to take the tests so far this school year. About 76 percent of the estimated 18,000 students who have taken the tests have passed.

Seniors in Clark County had the second-lowest pass rates in both tests. Only 23 percent of the 5,416 students earned a passing grade (64 percent or higher) in math and only 32 percent passed (71 percent or higher) in reading.

Bill Hanlon, a member of the state Board of Education from Las Vegas and the head of a math institute for the school district, said part of the low pass rate in Clark County is due to demographics.

"Look at it in terms of ethnic breakdown." Hanlon said. "I don't want a minority population bombardment, but minorities are disproportionately represented in poverty.

"You would expect Clark County to be doing a lot worse. We had 49 percent of our kids pass the proficiency test on the first attempt. Washoe County had only 51 percent pass. When I look at what Clark County is doing with the demographic population, I think we're doing a damn good job. Do I want it better? Absolutely."

The Education Department reported statewide that 28 percent of the 1,358 Hispanics who took the test and 26 percent of 776 blacks passed the math exam. Among whites, 41 percent passed; American Indians, 40 percent and Asians, 34 percent.

Results in reading were 40 percent pass rate for Hispanics, 46 percent for blacks, 62 percent for whites, 42 percent for Asians and 65 percent for Indians.

The worst passing rate in the state in math on the February test was in Humboldt County, with 18 percent. The lowest in reading was in Washoe County with 31 percent.

The failure rate mirrors last year at this time, when about 2,330 hadn't passed the math test. Extra tests and remediation sessions were given and eventually only 709 didn't get their diplomas because of failing the math test.

Seniors will have a chance to take the test again in April, and the examination will be given in June, after school is out. After that, students will have unlimited opportunities to take the examination as long as they are enrolled in high school or an adult education program.

Tom McIntosh, director of standards, curricula and assessment for the Education Department, said he has no explanation why students haven't improved this year. An estimated 3,200 seniors haven't passed, about 900 more than last year at this time.

"The test is no harder," McIntosh said.

McIntosh said he feels sorry for parents of those who can't pass.

"But I greatly believe that if your daughter or son doesn't have the math skills required on this test, they are not prepared for getting into the job world or for continuing on education.

"The skills required are not anything a kid shouldn't know," McIntosh said.

Rheault advises students who plan to take the test in April to look at sample questions on the Internet from an old test. Most students fail the problem-solving questions, he said.

"It wasn't on algebra. Algebra was the highest area because we asked very simple questions.

"Sixty percent of the kids answered all the algebra questions correctly," he said.

Cy Ryan

covers state government for the Sun. He can be reached at (775) 687-5032.