Test scores back on school agenda

School board members got their first look at the second round of test scores for the elementary and high school students at the February board meeting. 

Administrators will provide a deeper dive into the results during their next regular meeting Monday, March 15. 

Like other students around the country, Perkins County Schools students missed out on the last two and half months of in-person school last spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

PCS switched to on-line learning for the remainder of the school year. 

One of the big concerns of PCS administrators going into the 2020-21 school year was just how much the loss of in-person school would affect student progress. 

Within weeks of school resuming last fall, students were tested to assess the effects and set a baseline going forward.

 The second round of testing was completed after the Christmas break. Those results were presented at the February meeting. 

High School Principal Ben Jones told board members PCS was seeing growth since resuming school in the fall. 

“We’re very lucky that we’re able to go to school and we’re able to see some of these things growing where other districts might not be,” he said, adding they are trying to capitalize on that growth.

He and Elementary Principal Nancy Sorenson said there are still areas of concern. 

Board member Amy Kroeker said too often, as a board, the test score reports are made but not enough follow-up occurs. 

“We talk about them, and then we walk away from them. And we never talk about them again, until they come around again. I think that’s a problem,” she told her fellow board members. 

She said they get lots of numbers and data thrown out all at once, making it hard to full digest and comprehend. 

She asked administrators to complete an analysis for each class to better quantify areas that need addressed, since each class is different. 

Superintendent Phillip Picquet said this week they have prepared a deeper analysis for the board and staff for Monday’s meeting.

In addition, he said teachers and administrators have been working together to develop action plans to address areas of need.

Overall, he said test results were positive and show student growth. It also pointed out some deficiencies in certain subjects and grade levels that are being addressed with action plans for improvement.