Wisconsin Math, Reading Test Scores Take a Hit with Higher Standards

Note: The math scores for 2011 and 2012 for the Maple Dale-Indian Hill School District were intially reported incorrection. The figures have been corrected in the chart below.

School districts throughout the region saw a significant drop in the number of students who scored proficient or advanced on statewide reading and math tests, according to results released Tuesday.

However, state education officials say the decline is attributed to higher standards for those tests and that Wisconsin students actually are continuing to show gains in the math and reading portions.

More than 430,000 public school students took the Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Examinations in November 2012. Overall results showed 48.1 percent of students were proficient or advanced in mathematics, and 36.2 percent were proficient or advanced in reading, according to the state Department of Public Instruction. By comparison, in 2011, 81.9 percent were proficient or advanced in reading, and 78 percent hit that mark in math

Visit the state Department of Public Instruction website to see your school's scores

The reason for the drop-off is that Wisconsin is raising the benchmark scores needed for students to reach the proficient or advanced performance levels. These new college and career readiness proficiency levels are based on the National Assessment of Educational Progress.

When the last year's statewide scores are recalibrated, this year's math proficiency score is the same as 2011, while the reading score is actually a bit higher, according to the Journal Sentinel.

Students in grades 3 through 8 and grade 10 took tests in reading and math. Students in grades 4, 8 and 10 also took assessments in language arts, science, and social studies. Only reading and math were recalibrated with new standards in 2012.

Percentage of all students in area school districts rated as "proficient" or "advanced" in statewide academic tests.

Reading Math Language Science Social Studies 2011 2012 2011 2012 2011 2012 2011 2012 2011 2012 Brown Deer 83.0 28.1 78.5 42.6 74.5 69.1 77.1 69.4 85.4 81.5 Fox Point-Bayside 94.3 65.4 92.3 74.4 83.7 91.7 91.6 93.3 96.1 96.4 Glendale-River Hills 89.9 43.1 81.1 51.7 81.8 75.0 85.4 80.4 89.9 92.4 Maple Dale-Indian Hill 92.2 55.1 88.4 64.5 91.3 86.2 91.3 90.8 92.4 98.9 Nicolet 89.4 57.4 84.7 61.6 80.9 83.3 79.6 85.7 82.6 88.0 Shorewood 91.1 55.7 88.4 69.6 82.5 81.0 87.4 88.6 89.7 93.4 Whitefish Bay 94.1 60.6 92.3 71.9 89.2 87.9 89.9 89.7 92.9 93.1 STATEWIDE 81.9 36.2 78.0 48.1 70.3 69.5 76.6 76.7 82.7 84.2

Source: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction