Unadjusted SOL Scores in Fredericksburg Show Ups and Downs

Division shared information about preliminary results on Monday.

by Adele Uphaus
MANAGING EDITOR AND CORRESPONDENT

City students’ unadjusted SOL test scores from this spring show some ups and some downs over last year, according to information shared with the School Board on Monday.

The unadjusted scores represent the scores from all tests taken in April and May of this year, minus failing retakes and initial failing scores if there is a passing retake, said Lori Bridi, the division’s chief academic officer.

The Virginia Department of Education permits elementary and middle school students who fail their spring SOL tests by a narrow margin to retake the test before the end of the school year.

In elementary school, students take SOL tests in reading and math every year beginning in 3rd grade, as well as a Virginia Studies SOL in 4th grade and a science SOL in 5th grade.

Middle school students in grades 6 to 8 are also tested in reading and math each year. Students take SOL tests in algebra 1, geometry, civics, world geography, and 8th grade science as well.

High school students take end-of-course SOL tests in classes for which they need graduation credits. Tests are offered in 12 subjects, including reading and writing, Algebra I and II, Geometry, Earth Science, Biology, Chemistry, Virginia and U.S. History, World Geography, and World History I and II.

Takeaways from Unadjusted SOL Scores

According to the unadjusted results, students at Hugh Mercer Elementary maintained or improved their scores in 5th grade reading and science and 4th grade math, but scores declined in 3rd grade reading and math, 4th grade reading, Virginia Studies, and 5th grade math.

Scores on the 3rd grade and 5th grade math tests decreased by more than 10%.

Students at Lafayette Elementary maintained or increased scores in 3rd grade reading and math, 4th grade reading, Virginia Studies, and 5th grade reading, math, and science. Grade 5 math and science scores increased by more than 10%.

The only scores that declined over last year at Lafayette were those for 4th grade math.

Walker-Grant Middle School students maintained or improved their scores in 6th grade math, civics, algebra I, geometry, 7th grade English and math. They also maintained or improved their scores in 8th grade English, math, science, and world geography.

Grade 8 math scores increased by more than 10%, but grade 6 English scores decreased by more than 10%.

At James Monroe High School, students maintained their scores on the end-of-course reading, algebra, chemistry, and world history II tests.

Biology, world geography, Virginia/U.S. studies, and world history II scores improved by more than 10%, but end-of-course writing, algebra II, geometry, and earth science scores decreased.

The division will begin to disaggregate the data and look at how different student groups performed and how much growth the scores reflect over the next month, Bridi said. Staff will also then be able to make accreditation predictions, identify trends, and implement corrective plans, she said.

The Virginia Department of Education usually releases final SOL scores for all divisions in August or September.

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