From the News & Observer:
Preliminary results released today showed that 84.9 percent of students passed state end-of-course exams, typically given in high school, this past school year when you include retests. Without the retests, 80.6 percent of students passed. That compares to 80.1 percent in the 2008-09 school year.
Wake also reported that 85.5 percent of elementary and middle school students passed state end-of-grade math exams this past school year. That compares to 84.5 percent the previous year.
For elementary and middle school students on state end-of-grade reading exams, the passing rate was 76.5 percent. That’s up from 74.7 percent in 2008-09.
The truth is that we have no idea why there was an increase in test scores. Despite the lack of evidence, opponents of the school board majority will still claim that busing or wacky Wednesdays did the trick. That’s what they do.
If Wake County is not merely following a statewide trend, then credit goes to classroom teachers for their success.
