CVHS SBAC scores exceed state average

The average score for CVHS on the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) test exceeded the California state average.  In 2015, 51 percent of CVHS students scored “proficient” in math and 73 percent scored “proficient” in English, while 33 percent of California students scored “proficient” in math and 44 percent scored “proficient” in English.

The SBAC is a standardized test which evaluates student production and performance. It was first utilized in the state of Washington. Eventually, many school districts in California adopted this test over the former STAR test, however, many people question if standardized tests provide useful information.

There are at least two different ways CVHS can view the results of this SBAC test.  On one hand CVHS can take satisfaction in scoring higher than the state average.  More students at CVHS must be receiving a higher quality education than what is happening at the majority of high-schools in California.  So we can be thankful for that situation.  

“Smarter Balanced Assessment results were indicative of a great deal of hard work resulting in the majority of our students achieving proficiency at satisfactory levels,” said Superintendent Parvin Ahmadi.

On the other hand though, 49 percent of CVHS students did not score “proficient” in math and  27 percent did not score “proficient” in English.  So a number of CVHS students have more work to do to reach proficiency.   

Another interesting phenomenon is that California students scored lower on the 2015 SBAC test than they did on the 2013 STAR test. About 18 percent fewer California students scored “proficient” in math on the 2015 SBAC test than on the 2013 STAR test.  Also 12 percent fewer California students scored “proficient” on the 2015 SBAC English test than on the 2013 STAR test.  

The most likely explanation for the lower SBAC scores is that the SBAC test was more difficult than the STAR test.