CMT Results show Increase in Math Scores For Middle School Students

Connecticut Mastery Test results released today showed that math scores for students in grades six through eight in Rocky Hill have increased, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Marian I. Hourigan said. However, the writing scores for sixth and seventh grade students are slightly down, Hourigan added.

Sixth grade students were 98 percent proficient in the math portion of the test while seventh grade students were just below 99 percent proficient and eighth grade students were just above 97 percent proficient.

“The middle school math scores are very high,” Hourigan said.  “We are very pleased to see the math scores increase.” 

Hourigan said that the middle school math curriculum was recently rewritten and a new textbook was implemented.

“The new curriculum and textbook are pointing us in the right direction,” Hourigan said. 

However, there was a decline in sixth and seventh grade writing scores while eighth grade students stayed about the same, Hourigan said.

Sixth grade students were 94 percent proficient in the writing portion while seventh grade students were just above 93 percent proficient and eighth grade students were above 95 percent proficient.

Hourigan said that administrators are working on improving writing scores. She added that students are writing more at the middle and elementary school level.  

Teachers are working with other teachers in what is known as data teams. Data teams allow teachers to go over curriculum together and improve instruction, Hourigan said.

Hourigan said that the teachers are not just concerned with better test scores, but with improving writing, reading and math skills in general. 

Administrators are currently analyzing the numbers and will present their findings to the Board of Education in the near future.

See the attached PDFs for the full breakout of the district’s performance on the 2011 CMT as well as a breakdown of the state figures.