May 04, 2010

The Progress Continues -- DCPS Students Make Steady Improvement in Science Proficiency  

Contact: Jennifer Calloway | (202) 535-1096

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and DCPS Chancellor Michelle Rhee announced the results of the 2009 District of Columbia Comprehensive Assessment System (DC CAS) in Science. Elementary and secondary District of Columbia Public School (DCPS) students increased their knowledge of science and biology, making important inroads towards boosting the school system’s competitiveness in these ever-advancing fields.

The DC CAS Science is administered to students in grades 5, 8 and 9-12, and 2009 marks the second year students were tested for proficiency in science and biology.

“We want DCPS students to be leaders of innovation in any path they choose,” Mayor Fenty said. “Science, technology, engineering and math are fields with endless potential, and we are committed to ensuring that we’re doing everything possible to prepare our students for success.”

“Math and reading are the building blocks of education and science strengthens the critical thinking skills that our students need to compete with their peers domestically and abroad,” Chancellor Rhee said. “We’re encouraged by this steady improvement and we know that many DCPS science teachers have gone the extra mile to stay up to date on new developments. While collectively there is more work to be done before we reach our goals, we have full confidence in DCPS students.”

RESULTS

• 34 percent of DCPS fifth-grade students scored proficient or advanced, up 2 percentage points from last year.

• 23 percent of DCPS eighth-grade students scored proficient or advanced, up 5 percentage points from last year.

• 39 percent of students in grades 9-12 were proficient or advanced in Biology.
  *The 2008 results were non-comparable, only 9-10 graders were tested in 2008.

INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL RESULTS

In addition to overall progress made by students across the board, some individual schools made dramatic gains. Nine elementary schools increased their science proficiency by 20 percentage points or more and four middle schools increased their proficiency by at least 5 percentage points:

IMPORTANCE OF SCIENCE EDUCATION

DCPS believes that a basic understanding of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) is vital to being a productive member of the increasingly competitive workforce. Across the nation and locally, jobs in STEM-related fields are among the fastest growing careers.

“I’m happy that our students made such impressive gains on the DC CAS; as a Science teacher I’m always looking for ways to make the material more engaging,” said Ross Elementary teacher Mr. Daniel Markus. “By enabling students to connect standards to the real world it increases what they can take away from each lesson. When learning about different organisms, it makes a difference in the classroom to use a microscope to show what bacteria looks like, rather than tell.”

Enabling schools to deliver compelling academic offerings is an integral part of DCPS’s strategy to build a system of excellent schools.

Next year, six neighborhood schools will launch Catalyst STEM programs designed to integrate curriculum, lessons and school culture to highlight STEM issues and skills as a theme within all core subjects. In a STEM classroom, at any level and in any subject, students actively learn through discovery and engaging inquiry-based instruction. The STEM schools will remain open to all neighborhood and out-of-boundary students and will not require a selective application.

2010-2011 Catalyst STEM Schools

• Beers Elementary
• Burroughs Education Campus
• Emery Education Campus
• Langdon Education Campus
• Malcolm X Elementary School
• Whittier Education Campus

MAP OF 2010-2011 CATALYST STEM SCHOOLS

To view the 2009 DC CAS Science results for all DC public schools please visit the Office of the State Superintendent of Education.

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