PC, Wallace students better their peers, state

Students at both Perkins County and Wallace schools performed well on the latest statewide achievement tests, better than their peers and much better than statewide averages.

The Nebraska Department of Education released the test results last week. Students took the tests last year. 

The department also released preliminary ratings for each school district. Perkins County schools were rated “great,” the second highest classification. Wallace schools were rated in the highest classification, “excellent.”

Statewide, 12% of schools were rated excellent, 42% great, and 33% were good. Only 13% were designated as needing improvement.

On the English language arts test, 67% of Perkins County students were proficient compared to 52% for their peers and the state. The percent of students who were proficient rose two percentage points each year for the last two years. 

On the mathematics test, 59% of Perkins County students were proficient, an increase of five percentage points over a year before. That figure was seven points higher than the state average and four points higher than Perkins County’s peer schools. 

Perkins County students did best, and showed the greatest advantage over students statewide, on the science test. Ninety-four percent of students were proficient, an increase of 17 percentage points in two years. Statewide, only 66% of students were proficient. 

Science proficiency has declined statewide, which experts say reflects adjustments to new science standards adopted in 2017. But science proficiency rates increased in Perkins County. 

On the English language arts test, 61% percent of Wallace students were proficient, 9 points higher than the state average. On the math test, 61% of Wallace students were proficient, compared to 52% statewide. On the science test, 58% of Wallace students were proficient, lower than the statewide average of 66%.

Wallace students improved their proficiency on the English test by 10 percentage points over two years ago. They improved their math proficiency by 17 points, but their proficiency in science declined from 71% two years ago.