McCook Junior High ranks high in science

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Out of 249 schools in Nebraska, students at McCook Junior High ranked the fifth highest in science.

But state testing also shows that scores have dropped slightly in math at McCook Elementary.

The Nebraska Department of Education released the State of the Schools report in late September, which included rankings of schools in Nebraska in different subjects, as well as results of state testing in reading, math and science administered to students.

The drop in math scores at McCook Elementary, from 88 percent in 2011-12 to 77 percent in 2012-13, was not surprising, said McCook Schools Superintendent Grant Norgaard.

Overall, the McCook School District scored in the top quartile compared to all schools in Nebraska, McCook Superintendent Grant Norgaard said.

"We feel pretty good about the growth ... it speaks to what we're doing, to be the best school we can be," Norgaard said.

The Nebraska Performance Accountability System (NePAS) ranks school districts by comparison to other school districts in Nebraska, in reading, mathematics, writing (if available) and science.

How McCook Schools ranked compared to other 249 schools in the state included: Grades 3-5: reading, 47, math, 98, science, 78; Grades 6-8: reading, 55, math, 34, science, 5; Grades 9-12, reading, 87, math, 131, science, 46.

The State of the Schools Report also included results of proficiency testing on reading, mathematics and science. There was noticeable jump for grades 9 through 12 in all subjects, including an 11 percent jump in reading, with 63 percent last year to 74 percent this year, math, from 59 percent to 72 percent and science, from 64 percent to 89 percent.

Mathematic scores at McCook Elementary dropped this year from last year, from 83 percent to 77 percent.

This is an area that has already been identified, Norgaard said, with curriculum changes already in place. This means focusing instruction in other places, Norgaard said.

"Of course there will be fluctuation but we're not doing poorly by any means," he continued. "We know we can be at a higher level.

"It may take a couple of years to be in the top 90th percentile but we're capable of doing it."

One assessment during the year is not enough to identify problem areas, he added. What really helps are the criteria testing done throughout the year, administered by teachers, that immediately identifies students who are not proficient in subjects.

That way, teachers can see who is not grasping the material and can address the problem right away, he said.