NECAP Scores Sitting at Plateau

Barrington students seem to have hit a plateau at a much higher level of achievement than most students in Rhode Island.

At least the fall 2012 (New England Common Assessment Program ) NECAP scores that were released on Feb. 8 indicates that level of achievement is the case. 

The scores again put Barrington at the top of the list for schools in the state. At the same time, the scores showed almost the exact same level of achievement as five years ago. 

“We’re satisified with the high level of achievement,” said Superintendent Michael Messore. “But we have identified areas that need attention and review. So we’re not entirely satisfied.”

Messore said he and his staff plan to provide a full assessment of the latest NECAP scores to the School Committee at the Thursday, Feb. 21, meeting. He preferred to hold off on assessing the scores until Thursday.

Among the areas that seem to indicate a bit of concern are the drop in reading and math scores at three of the elementary schools: Nayatt, Primrose Hill and Sowams. The scores were still among the best in the state. But they are lower than a year ago and quite a bit lower than five years ago.

The students at Hampden Meadows and at the middle and high school stayed about the same as a year ago and five years ago.  But the math scores, while about the same as last year, are still down from five years ago.

Messore said that, among the possible solutions to getting students over the hump that they seem to be sitting at, will be a look as "what the highest performing schools elsewhere are doing."

"We need to open a dialogue with each other," he said.