HES achieves solid scores on state educational tests

By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — Third-graders at Houlton Elementary School achieved last fall some of the highest scores it has ever had on the New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP).
    The NECAP test is administered to students in grades 3-8 at the start of each school year. Its purpose is to test a student’s knowledge base of what he/she learned in the previous year. For example, a third-grade student is tested on how well he/she learned and retained information from second grade. Elementary students are tested in reading and mathematics. Older students are also tested in writing.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
HIGH SCORERS — Houlton Elementary School had one of its largest groups of third-graders meet or exceed the state standards for reading and mathematics during last fall’s New England Common Assessment Program. HES students who met or exceeded standards in both reading and math were front from left, Savannah Walton, Alexandra Reed and Elijah Matheson; and back, Gabriel Fitzpatrick, Morgan Graham, Quinn White, Aryus Desjardins and Simon Banas.
    At HES, 83 percent of its students were either “proficient” or “proficient with distinction” in reading, while 65 percent met or exceeded the standard in mathematics. According to Sally Cole, reading interventionist, the 83 percent figure for reading represents one of the higher percentages in recent history at HES. Last year, the school tallied 79 percent for reading.
    In comparison, the state average for reading at the third-grade level was 72 percent, while the average for math was 64 percent.
    “We were absolutely thrilled with our test scores,” said Cole.
    What has HES educators even more excited is the number of students who were “proficient with distinction” for this year. “Proficient with Distinction” is defined as students who demonstrate the prerequisite knowledge and skills needed to participate and excel in instructional activities with the Grade Level Expectations at their current grade. Errors made by these students are few and minor and do not reflect gaps in perquisite knowledge and skills.
    At HES, 29 percent of the students fell into this category for reading.
    “The number of students meeting with distinction has really increased,” said Janet Murakami, a literacy coach at the school.
    Cole attributes the students’ success in reading to the “Reading First” program that was established through grant funds about five years ago.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
TOP READERS — Houlton Elementary School third-graders who met or exceeded the state standards in reading during last fall’s NECAP tests were, front from left, Christian Lively, Thomas Wilcox and Sidney Peabody; middle, Mackenzie Campbell, Emmalyne Drake, Isabel Cyr and Bailie Melvin; and back, Maliyha Kinney, Brandon Roshto, Mitchell Hardy, Drew Foley and Halee Grant.
    “We implemented a core program in that all students, regardless of what classroom they are in, receive the same instruction,” Cole said. “That made a huge difference in filling in the gaps.”
    Cole said the scores have dramatically improved since the start of the Reading First program. Five years ago, only 63 percent of the students met the benchmark in reading. At that time, students took the Maine Educational Assessment (MEA) test. That testing system was dropped in favor of the NECAP system.
    “When we implemented this program (five years ago), we were concerned with the number of students who were not meeting the standard,” Cole said.
    HES’ test scores are not the only ones that were above the state average for the third grade level. At Wellington Elementary School in Monticello, 87 percent of its students met or exceeded the state average in reading, while 69 percent met or exceeded the math standards. At Hodgdon Mill Pond School in Hodgdon, 88 percent of its students met or exceeded the state average in reading, while 79 percent met or exceeded math standards.
    At Katahdin Elementary School, 84 percent of its students met or exceed the state average in reading, while 79 percent met or exceeded math standards. At East Grand School in Danforth, 80 percent of its students met or exceeded the reading standards, while 80 percent met the state standards for math.