Duval students still behind state in end of course scores but show gains in some subjects

Duval County students improved significantly in some subjects but continue to lag behind the state in proficiency in Algebra 1, Biology 1, geometry and U.S. History, according to end of course exam scores released Monday by the Florida Department of Education.

Duval showed a 19 percentage point increase from 2013 in the number of students meeting or exceeding the passing/proficiency level of 3 in U.S. History. However, the number of students at proficiency declined in the other three subjects end of course assessments.

The district dropped two percentage points from 2013 in the number of students proficient at both Algebra 1 and geometry. Duval declined 4 percentage points from 2013 in Biology 1 for the number of students at proficiency, the results showed.

And overall, Duval was below the statewide passage rate in all four subjects.

Superintendent Nikolai Vitti said the data shows the district is making gains in some subjects at some schools but as yet the improvement is not consistent district- or subject-wide. Duval ninth and 10th grade students increased 8 and 10 percentage points, respectively compared to 2013 in Algebra 1, with 90 percent of schools showing gains in that area.

Our challenge is taking that progress at scale with sustainability, Vitti said, noting that task will be tougher with next years change in assessments and standards.

The greatest challenge for Duval in math, Vitti said, is middle school students taking Algebra 1 and geometry who might not ready for it yet.

We have kids taking algebra in seventh grade that I dont believe should be taking algebra in seventh grade. Instead, they should be taking it in eighth, Vitti said. And we have kids taking geometry in eighth grade, who shouldnt be.

Vitti said the fact that more middle school students took algebra and geometry than in the past obviously hurt our district-wide performance. He noted that the assessment showed the districts ninth grade students did well in algebra while their middle school counterparts didnt. Next year, the district will be more selective in who takes algebra in seventh and eighth grade, he said.

Biology scores declined, he said, because the district lost some of its best high school biology teachers to promotion to district-level positions, or they left the school system.

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Duval students still behind state in end of course scores but show gains in some subjects