Students in grades three through eight and grade 10 in Wisconsin scored higher in math and reading for all racial and ethnic groups in the last year of Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Examinations (WKCE).
Overall, 48.6 percent of students scored proficient or advanced in mathematics on the WKCE, according to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. Achievement in reading has seen a steady increase over five years and has increased 1.1 percentage points.
“It’s heartening to see overall progress in math and reading results on the WKCE,” State Superintendent Tony Evers said in a statement. “Our achievement gaps are no secret and are too large. That is why I have appointed a task force of teachers and principals to specifically address classroom-based practices that can impact Wisconsin’s achievement gap. The educators on my Promoting Excellence for All Task Force are from public, charter, and choice schools that are moving the needle on student achievement. We want them to tell us what works in their schools and help us apply these strategies in classrooms across the state.”
Next year, Wisconsin students will take online, adaptive assessments through the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium.
“The new assessments will allow students to show more of what they know and provide information for parents and teachers to target timely instruction for those who need more challenges or additional help,” Evers said. “The new assessments will support our Agenda 2017 goals to close achievement gaps and prepare all students to graduate college and career ready.”
Here's how the numbers break down for some districts in La Crosse Co.:
Wisconsin 36.2% 48.3%
La Crosse 34.6% 41.9%
Onalaska 43.3% 61.4%
Holmen 43.0% 53.7%
West Salem 43.1% 53.6%
The supervisor of instruction and curriculum in La Crosse says even though they are below the state average overall in reading and math, they are seeing improvement in the district, especially in the older students.
"We actually are initially below the state average in 3rd grade, but then as we reach middle school, we're above the state average in middle school on up through 10th grade, with 10th grade being our highest percentage of proficient and advanced students," said Kris Mueller.