Last month, we shared our 2016 PARCC scores. Today, we’re writing with more good news about PARCC, this time looking at our PARCC score growth results.
The status results we reported in September reflect achievement data, or how well our individual students are meeting Colorado’s academic expectations. The growth results provide information on how our students make progress over time toward meeting or exceeding those expectations and are an additional data point to reinforce our students’ performance as the highest performing elementary school in Denver serving a majority of students eligible for Free and Reduced Lunch (FRL).
Growth scores are reported as median growth percentiles (MGP), meaning that students’ PARCC scores from 2016 are compared to their scores from 2015 and then their year-to-year progress is compared to others with similar scores. Based on that comparison, students are given a percentile score (1-99) and the median percentile score of all students in a grade or school determines the school’s MGP. We’re excited about what the results show.
- Our growth in math is excellent (76 MGP), ranking RMP Creekside 4th of all DPS elementary schools on math growth and 18th of all elementary schools in the state.
- Our combined math and English (ELA) growth score also ranks RMP Creekside 6th of all DPS elementary schools. Overall, our growth outpaces both the district and the state.
- And while our English growth score isn’t quite as strong (61 MGP), it still shows that students are making more than a typical Colorado student’s year of growth in this area – and highlights an area where we will focus even more in this school year.
- Our growth for English Language Learners (ELL) was also strong. The RMP Creekside ELL math MGP was 78 compared to 46 for DPS ELL math, and our English MGP was 73 compared to 49 for DPS.
Our current data is based on results from RMP Creekside, where our older students (grades 3-5) took PARCC tests in the spring of 2016. (For elementary schools, students in grades 3 – 5 take PARCC tests each spring)
The strong growth we are seeing in students’ scores shows us that the positive results we reported back in September are not an anomaly. Our students are doing very well comparatively both in absolute terms – the percentage who are meeting state standards compared to other students in Denver, and in growth terms – how quickly and how far our students are growing compared to other students across Colorado.
As we mentioned in September, we are focusing on strengthening our ELA instruction and closing the gap faced by our English Language Learners. And we also continue to work on our support system for students who are behind in either math or English. We are proud of what our students have already achieved as we work every day to give them an excellent education.