2007 NAEP writing scores released
Eigth-graders in North Carolina scored on par with their peers across the country on the 2007 National Assessment of Educational Progress, whose results were released Thursday. Students' writing scores decreased when compared with results from 2002, the last time the national test was given.
However, 87 percent of students scored at the basic level or above on the writing test. About 4,000 students at 150 N.C. schools participated. You can find the full state press release here.
NAEP is often referred to as "The Nation's Report Card" because it is the only common assessment used by all states. Average writing scores increased from 2002 to 2007 for 19 of the 39 states and jurisdictions that participated in the writing assessment in both years.
North Carolina eighth-graders averaged a scale score of 153 in 2007, compared to a national average of 154. North Carolina's average scale score was 150 in 1998; in 2002, the score was 157, one of the highest in the nation at the time.
In general, North Carolina students performing at the 50th percentile or below maintained their performance level from 2002 to 2007, while students at the 75th or 90th percentile lost ground. Students at the 50th percentile decreased four points during this period, but this change was not statistically significant, according to the NAEP report.
State Superintendent June Atkinson expressed concern about the slip among top-performing students in a brief press conference today.
"This points out how we have to pay more attention to how we are serving our students who are high achievers," she said.
Atkinson said the state board is requesting more state funding for gifted students. Halifax, Bertie, Hertford and Richmond counties are also getting addtional help.
Atkinson added that literary coaches are working with 200 schools in the state and DPI is working with the university system to make sure they graduate teachers who can adequately teach writing processes. Classroom writing assignmens also need to be creative and interesting, Atkinson said.