Students falls short of math standards

Jeffrey Libby

Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2002 | 9:51 a.m.

About half of Clark County third and fifth grade students failed to meet new federal standards in reading and math, according to test scores released Tuesday by the Clark County School District.

The dismal scores on the Nevada Criterion Referenced Examination were slightly better than average scores statewide, which were released last week.

Despite the low scores and the difficult task of raising scores significantly by 2013-2014 in order to preserve millions of dollars annually in federal funding, Assemblywoman Vonne Chowning, D-North Las Vegas, said teachers, students and parents are working admirably under ever-increasing standards.

"I don't want to slam anyone," said Chowning, a member of a governor-appointed legislative committee charged with improving academic standards. "The worst thing is to have the students and parents and teachers feel so deflated that they don't want to continue."

"But the message has to be communicated strongly how dire this situation is, especially in light of the No Child Left Behind Act. I'd be surprised if we have any schools that will pass."

The state needs to commit more resources to education young students, Chowning said, noting that Gov. Kenny Guinn has pledged to support legislation that would help get all students reading by the third grade.

Of Clark County third graders who took the proficiency exam last spring, 53 percent met standards in reading and 52 percent met standards in math.

Of Clark County fifth graders who took the exam, 48 percent met reading standards and 51 percent met math standards.

Their scores were one to two percentage points higher than the scores statewide.

But in Clark County, black and Hispanic students, students learning English, and students qualifying for free or reduced price lunches all scored significantly lower than other students. For instance, just 32 percent of English Language Learners met standards.

More than 45,000 Clark County students are enrolled in ELL classes and their numbers are expected to rise to 80,000 in the next two years.