Locally, districts say they're using a variety of methods to get those high school seniors and future classes passing them.
This year, state high school exams have taken on additional significance as passing scores on math and eventually science tests become requirements for graduation.
The state Wednesday released results of standardized tests taken last spring.
For high school students, that included the High School Proficiency Exam (HSPE, pronounced hiss-pee) and end-of-course (EOC) exams in algebra, geometry and biology. Elementary and middle school tests are known as the Measurements of Student Progress (MSP).
The percentage of high schoolers who passed the math tests improved in all school districts on the Kitsap Peninsula from the 2010-11 to the 2011-12 school year.
This year's graduating seniors will have to have passed one math exam, which is often given in 10th grade. Last year, seniors could either pass the exam or earn math class credits their junior and senior years.
To graduate in 2015, students will have to pass both algebra and geometry exams as well as a biology exam, which was taken districtwide for the first time this spring.
After tests this spring, about 26 percent of students statewide had not yet passed math, reading and/or writing exams required for graduation, according to state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. Most of those had not passed a math exam.
"You pause a little bit here because the numbers of kids that are going to have to get through this are higher than we've had in the past in reading and writing," said State Deputy Superintendent Alan Burke during Wednesday's news conference.
Students have traditionally fared better on writing and reading tests than in math and science at all grade levels.
Students who haven't passed can retake the tests in January or can have to either compile a portfolio of class work that demonstrates their knowledge, submit qualifying SAT or ACT scores or pass advanced placement exams in calculus or statistics with a 3 or 4.
A vast majority of Bainbridge Island students don't have to worry about that.
That district has one of the highest rates of students passing the math and biology exams in the state with 94 percent meeting standards in algebra, 98.2 percent meeting standards in geometry and 92 percent in biology.
The district credits teachers, additions to curriculum and clearly communicating learning targets to students.
For students whom teachers foresee struggling in math, they offer an elective pre-algebra class and can take an algebra support lab in concert with their algebra I class in ninth grade.
"They end up doing 'twice' the amount of practice and, hopefully, learning," Bainbridge High School math department chairman Dan McLean said.
The statewide average passing rate was 71 percent for algebra, 79.1 percent for geometry and 62.1 percent in biology.
Central Kitsap and North Kitsap high schoolers beat state average scores at least slightly and in some cases by double percentage points in some areas.
CK Superintendent Greg Lynch noted that with many changes made in the state tests over the past few years causing possible anomalies, it's difficult to draw conclusions about the results, but still said he was "exceptionally pleased" by improvements made in the district.
"Our end-of-course exam scores this year have increased fairly significantly," he said.
Geometry passing rates went from 66.9 percent to 85.2 percent in one year.
CK and other districts say part of the effort to get kids to pass has been to strengthen professional development and rework math lessons in earlier grades to better prepare kids for algebra.
In Bremerton, allowing teachers focusing on the same subjects to better coordinate their planning time and align lesson plans has helped them better target students, said school district spokeswoman Patty Glaser.
In recent years, attendance at twice-weekly after-school tutoring sessions has increased to hundreds, she said.
The high school also offers a semester-long class for students in which they focus on compiling the "collection of evidence," an alternative to passing the exam by creating a portfolio of work that demonstrates their understanding of topics.
"The whole idea is making sure that students understand the concepts," Glaser said.
Other districts also have been offering interventions for individual students and before- or after-school tutoring sessions for students.
In the coming year, North Mason School District will offer additional changes to help students struggling in math, said Superintendent David Peterson.
While a higher percentage of high schoolers passed the math exams this year, Peterson said "it's not at all where we expect ourselves to be."Changes to get more kids passing will include "double-dipping" math classes focused on freshmen and sophomores who are struggling in math. They'll get two periods a day of math, with one class including more intensive help.
The high school also offers online support and after-school tutoring.
"We want more kids to be more successful the first time on the test," he said.
Read more: http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2012/aug/29/all-kitsap-districts-improve-in-high-school-math/?partner=yahoo_feeds&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter#ixzz252Ld9XmY
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