Mt. Hope Scores Highest Overall in Language Arts NECAP

Though the New England Common Assesment Program (NECAP) test every year, Mt. Hope students and staff can truly be proud of their test scores this year.

"Honestly, I don't think we could have done any better," says Patrick Jackson, Department Chairman of Humanities at .

For the first time, Mt. Hope High School students came in on top in the overall language arts section of the test which is comprised of writing and reading scores. With a score of 84% efficiency, Mt. Hope rose to the top along with East Greenwich and Middletown.

"It's quite impressive that we're receiving some of the highest scores, up there with East Greenwich, considering we're the seventh poorest district," Jackson says.

Over last year's test scores, Mt. Hope improved by about five percent in the reading section and by about four percent in the writing section. Jackson says he also expects the school's final scores to go up a bit more.

"We received five zeros because of a mistake on the roster which were factored in to our score," Jackson says. "But we've appealed the zeros and I'm sure the scores will go up a little bit."

In the math section, students scored 36 percent proficient, which ranks Mt. Hope at about 13 in the state.

Overall, Jackson says the school's accomplishment has been no small task.

"Our scores are quite a testament to the education kids are receiving in this district," he says. "There has been an incredible amount of work put in by students, teachers and administration. We are all very proud."

Full NECAP results can be viewed here.