Riverview pleased with WASL results

CARNATION _ After looking at the results of the spring 1999

Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) test, Riverview

School District officials have decided they are heading in the right direction

academically.

However, the results also reminded them that there are still several

areas that require improvement.

"This is a result of very hardworking teachers and

principals, and a commitment by everybody to grow and to strengthen the

curriculum," said Carola Wittmann, the district's curriculum director.

"We know we have to improve in some areas, but that's what

we're about," she added.

The biggest jump in last spring's test results was in the 7th grade

scores, which almost doubled in the areas of math and reading.

Last year, only about 15.5 percent of the seventh-grade students

exceeded the state's standards, but this year, 33 percent made the grade.

In reading, 54 percent of students surpassed the standards compared to

40 percent last year. The seventh-grade students also broke the

90-percent mark in listening, jumping from 80 percent last year to 94.6 percent

this year. Writing results have not yet been released, due to scoring mistakes.

"There's no silver bullet," Wittmann said of the

seventh-grade improvements. "It's everybody,

not just the teachers or administration; it's the whole school family."

Scores for the fourth-grade students were similar to last year's,

but still remained above the state's average.

"We're at a plateau, so we need to move off of that," Wittmann said.

"We made tremendous gains between 1997 and 1998, and now we have a

standstill."

"We have a group of teachers who will do research in math and some

who will work on the writing. And between those two, we hope to move

forward," she added.

For the first time, tenth-grade students also took the WASL exam.

District officials said they were pleased with the results and said it sets a

good benchmark.

Last year, Wittmann said, the school dedicated every half-day,

in-service day and after-school meeting to implement plans to improve the

four main subjects reading, writing, math and communication.

Though most of the emphasis was on reading, writing and communication, this

year the district plans to put "all their might" behind math.

For a listing of the test results, visit the Office of Superintendent of

Public Instruction's Web site at www.ospi.wednet.edu.

Grade 4

1998 / 1999

Math 42.3 / 39.3

Reading 69.5 / 69

Listening 78 / 81.2

Grade 7

1998 / 1999

Math 15.5 / 33

Reading 39.7 / 54.3

Listening 79.7 / 94.6

Grade 10

1999

Math 41.8

Reading 66.5

Listening 83.3

*Writing scores to be announced

WASL test results

Riverview School District

Percent of students

meeting the state standard

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