Students in the East Greenbush Central School District who took the NYS Grades 3-8 Exams last spring scored 67% proficient in English Language Arts (1st in Capital Region) and 74% proficient in Mathematics (2nd in Capital Region), according to data shared at the public Board of Education meeting on Wednesday evening.
Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Roy Stiles led the presentation.
“For the most part, all of our grade levels had their students growing,” Mr. Stiles said at the board meeting.
Each student’s test results were mailed home directly from the Northeastern Regional Information Center in the fall. The results have no impact on a student’s academic record. They provide one of the many measures used to evaluate student progress including attendance, grades and school assessments.
During the presentation, Mr. Stiles outlined the proficiency rates for each grade level in both ELA and math. He also discussed steps for continued improvement in academic growth, including:
- Focus on data-driven instruction
- Purchase of Pear Assessment to support computer-based testing this spring
- Continue the use of Renaissance Instructional Practice Products
- Continue to update curriculum maps
- Implementation of new resources
- Heggerty Phonemic Awareness
- Additional decodable Readers
- Sonday System Reading Intervention
- Additional Supplemental Resources
- Continue to provide professional development for teachers and staff
In addition to the state testing report, Mr. Stiles shared data from the mid-year screener in ELA and math that students take. The screener is administered to students in grades K-8 three times per year (fall, winter and spring) on chromebooks.
The Renaissance reports also show which learning standards a student needs help in so targeted interventions can be addressed with the individual student.
“I think it really goes back to our teachers, our administrators, the staff meeting the needs of our students,” Mr. Stiles said. “Not being afraid to make changes, not being afraid to look at programming, add programs.”
“It’s really easy when we’re doing well to be complacent, but I think continuing to have that growth mindset and not be scared to make changes that are going to better our students.”
English Language Arts
| Grade Level | Proficiency % |
| 3rd Grade | 61% |
| 4th Grade | 69% |
| 5th Grade | 66% |
| 6th Grade | 62% |
| 7th Grade | 70% |
| 8th Grade | 78% |
| Total | 67% |
Mathematics
| Grade Level | Proficiency % |
| 3rd Grade | 77% |
| 4th Grade | 72% |
| 5th Grade | 74% |
| 6th Grade | 71% |
| 7th Grade | 76% |
| 8th Grade | 80% |
| Total | 74% |