Schools
Merrimack Outpaces State in NECAP Testing
Annual standardized tests show the majority of Merrimack students doing better than state averages.
The state late last week released the latest New England Common Assessment Program standardized test scores, showing that students in Merrimack are testing in most categories above state averages.
The annual NECAP testing of students in grades three through eight and 11, allows educators to track progress and helps pinpoint areas in need of improvement. Students at , and elementary schools, as well as at , and school were all called upon in the fall of 2010 to take the tests for which these results are based upon.
The tests are scored in four levels, Proficient with Distinction, Proficient, Partially Proficient and Significantly Below Proficient, with a goal of students scoring in the top two tiers.
Find out what's happening in Merrimackfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
In grade three, students scored above the state in both subjects they were tested in, reading and math. Fourth graders also topped state levels in both of those categories as well as in a third category, science, which is administered only in fourth, eighth and 11th grades.
In fifth grade, students in Merrimack sneaked past the state average in reading, but came up short in math and writing, which is tested only in fifth eighth and 11th grades.
Find out what's happening in Merrimackfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Merrimack sixth graders topped state averages in reading and math, while seventh graders lagged slightly behind in each category.
In eighth grade, students in Merrimack outscored the state average in reading and math, but were below average in writing and science.
While 11th-graders topped the state averages in all four testing categories, the percent of students testing at proficient or above is significantly lower at both the school and state level than any other grade-level in math, writing and science.
The charts below represent the percentage of students who scored proficient or higher on last fall's NECAP at each grade level in Merrimack compared to the state.
Third Grade, proficient or above
Reading Math Merrimack 85 86 State 80 76
Fourth grade, proficient or above
Reading Math Science Merrimack 80 82 59 State 77 74 55
Fifth grade, proficient or above
Reading Math Writing Merrimack 77 70 47 State 76 73 56
Sixth grade, proficient or above
Reading Math Merrimack 81 75 State 77 71
Seventh grade, proficient or above
Reading Math Merrimack 70 71 State 72 76
Eighth grade, proficient or above
Reading Math Writing Science Merrimack 85 71 61 24 State 78 66 64 28
11th grade, proficient or above
Reading Math Writing Science Merrimack 83 43 53 36 State 74 36 46 27
Click here to check out the state's NECAP results, which are broken down by district and school.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
