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NJ State Testing:�Spring 2024 Administrations

�Cresskill Schools�November 11, 2024

Support in Identifying Student Needs

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Competencies (5 Cs) & Core Skills Must Coexist

Statewide Assessment is not the exclusive criteria by which we measure growth or success. It’s just as important to build students’ capacities with collaboration, communication, critical thinking, creative problem-solving, and citizenship/community.

Most Likely To Succeed

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“What the Tests Don’t Assess

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NJSLA Assessment Overview

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NJSLA:

  • This is a statewide test administered in New Jersey to students in elementary, middle, and high school. Subjects tested include English Language Arts (ELA), Mathematics and Science. Grades 3-9 sit for ELA and Mathematics tests, while grades 5, 8 & 11 sit for the Science test.
  • Aim of test is to measure progress of students in meeting NJSLS standards.

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Worthy of Note!

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Our students outperformed students across the state in the three tested areas

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44% of 8th grade students took ADVANCED math tests (Alg I, II, Geo)

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26% of 7th grade students took ADVANCED math tests (Alg, Alg II)

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Our participation rates of students in each tested area remain consistently outstanding

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New for the 2024 Testing Analysis

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LinkIt:

  • Inspired the process for us to measure testing based on grade levels and tease out more specific information.
  • Allowed us to see more clearly the middle vs. high school performance in mathematics and understand and explain the trends in a new way.

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SECTION ONE -

NJSLA

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DISTRICT

ANALYSIS

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Cresskill’s NJSLA Participation Rate�Number of Students Tested �“Participation Rate” represents Valid Test Scores divided by Number of Eligible Test Takers.

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English Language Arts

Valid Test Scores

Participation

Rate

Math

Valid Test Scores

Participation

Rate

Science

Valid Test Scores

​

Participation

Rate

​

ELA03

120

100%

MAT03

129

100%

​

​

​

ELA04

149

100%

MAT04

151

100%

​

​

​

ELA05

129

99%

MAT05

136

99%

SC05

136

99%

ELA06

121

86%

MAT06

143

100%

​

​

​

ELA07

130

99%

MAT07

101

97%

​

​

​

ELA08

130

98%

MAT08

74

99%

SC08

133

99%

ELA09

115

92%

Algebra I (MS)

62

100%

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​

​

​

​

Algebra I (HS)

73

99%

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​

​

​

​

​

Geo (MS)

15

99%

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​

​

​

​

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Geo (HS)

126

99%

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​

​

​

​

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Algebra II (MS)

35

99%

SC11

109

98%

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​

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Algebra II

(HS)

27

100%

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Total

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96%

Total

​

99%

Total

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98%

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NJSLA Descriptors for ELA and Math

The NJSLA provided information about the performance levels of

the students in ELA and Math.

Performance Level

Descriptor

Level 1

Did Not Yet Meet Expectations

Level 2

Partially Met Expectations

Level 3

Approached Expectations

Level 4

Met Expectations

Level 5

Exceeded Expectations

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Cresskill’s ELA Grades 3-5

Grade-Level Performance Compared to

State Average Performance

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ELA03

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Level 5

STATE

20%

15%

21%

37%

6%

DISTRICT

8%

8%

17%

53%

13%

ELA04

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Level 5

STATE

13%

14%

22%

35%

16%

DISTRICT

4%

5%

14%

32%

45%

ELA05

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Level 5

STATE

13%

14%

21%

40%

12%

DISTRICT

2%

6%

12%

55%

26%

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Cresskill’s ELA Grades 6-9

Grade-Level Performance Compared to

State Average Performance

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ELA06

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Level 5

STATE

11%

14%

22%

37%

16%

DISTRICT

8%

8%

16%

38%

30%

ELA07

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Level 5

STATE

13%

12%

21%

32%

22%

DISTRICT

6%

8%

22%

37%

28%

ELA08

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Level 5

STATE

14%

14%

20%

35%

18%

DISTRICT

12%

16%

12%

39%

22%

ELA09

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Level 5

STATE

13%

13%

17%

36%

23%

DISTRICT

1%

7%

12%

44%

36%

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Percentage of Students Who Met or

Exceeded Expectations - ELA

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Notable Achievements

English/Language Arts (ELA)

Grades 3-9 the majority (69%) of our students met or exceeded expectations compared to all the other levels of performance (Blue).

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Grades 3-9 17% of our students partially met or did not yet meet expectations compared to all the other levels of performance (Green).

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Notable Achievements

English/Language Arts (ELA)

*96% of eligible test takers took the NJSLA ELA

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Cresskill’s ELA Grade 3-9 Trend Analysis

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Cresskill’s Math Grades 3-5

Grade-Level Performance Compared to

State Average Performance

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MAT03

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Level 5

STATE

12%

16%

25%

35%

13%

DISTRICT

2%

5%

17%

39%

37%

MAT04

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Level 5

STATE

12%

19%

25%

38%

8%

DISTRICT

3%

5%

11%

50%

32%

MAT05

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Level 5

STATE

12%

22%

25%

31%

9%

DISTRICT

2%

10%

24%

39%

26%

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Cresskill’s Math Grades 6-8

Grade-Level Performance Compared to

State Average Performance

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MAT06

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Level 5

STATE

14%

24%

26%

29%

7%

DISTRICT

4%

12%

25%

43%

18%

MAT07

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Level 5

STATE

11%

24%

28%

31%

7%

DISTRICT

5%

14%

27%

51%

4%

MAT08

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Level 5

STATE

30%

29%

22%

18%

2%

DISTRICT

32%

22%

28%

18%

0%

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A Deeper Dive into 8th Grade

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GRADE 8

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Level 5

ALG I

(N = 22)

–

–

91%

ALG II

(N=22)

–

–

77%

GEO

(N=16)

–

–-

94%

MATH 08

(N = 75)

54%

28%

18%

TOTAL 08

(N = 135)

30%

21%

48%

Cresskill’s long tradition of offering middle school students the opportunity to take high school level math courses opens doors of opportunity for young learners; however, doing so impacts the overall scores for the grade level test, which the most advanced students do not take.

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A Deeper Dive into 7th Grade

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GRADE 7

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Level 5

ALG I

(N = 21)

–

–

76%

ALG II

(N=14)

–

–

57%

MATH 07

(N = 101)

19%

27%

55%

TOTAL 07

(N = 136)

17%

23%

60%

Cresskill’s long tradition of offering middle school students the opportunity to take high school level math courses opens doors of opportunity for young learners; however, doing so impacts the overall scores for the grade level test, which the most advanced students do not take.

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Cresskill’s Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry

Grade-Level Performance Compared to

State Average Performance

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Algebra I

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Level 5

STATE

17%

21%

22%

36%

4%

DISTRICT (MS)

0%

0%

15%

79%

7%

DISTRICT (HS)

12%

19%

29%

40%

0%

Algebra II

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Level 5

STATE

15%

11%

15%

47%

12%

DISTRICT (MS)

0%

14%

17%

66%

3%

DISTRICT (HS)

7%

11%

22%

59%

0%

Geometry

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Level 5

STATE

6%

14%

30%

41%

8%

DISTRICT (MS)

0%

0%

7%

60%

33%

DISTRICT (HS)

5%

22%

37%

35%

2%

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Percentage of Students Who Met or

Exceeded Expectations - Math

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Notable Achievements

Mathematics

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Grades 3-8, Alg I/II, and Geometry the majority (60%) of our students met or exceeded expectations compared to all the other levels of performance (Blue).

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Grades 3-8, Alg I/II, and Geometry 18% of our students partially met or did not yet meet expectations compared to all the other levels of performance (Green).

*99% of eligible test takers took the NJSLA Math.

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Cresskill’s Math Grade 3-8, Alg I, Geom, Alg II Trend Analysis

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NJSLA Descriptors for Science

The NJSLA provided information about the student level of understanding of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards - Science.

Performance Level

Descriptor

Level 1

Minimal Understanding

Level 2

Limited Grade-level Understanding

Level 3

Appropriate Grade-level Understanding

Level 4

Advanced Understanding

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Cresskill’s Science Grades 5, 8, 11

Grade-Level Performance Compared to

State Average Performance

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Science 5

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

STATE

35%

37%

21%

6%

DISTRICT

18%

35%

31%

16%

Science 8

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

STATE

36%

45%

14%

5%

DISTRICT

23%

44%

19%

15%

Science 11

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

STATE

45%

27%

19%

9%

DISTRICT

17%

25%

40%

18%

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Percentage of Students Who Met or

Exceeded Expectations - Science

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Cresskill’s Science Grades 5,8,11 Trend Analysis

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SECTION TWO -

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DEMOGRAPHIC

ANALYSIS

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Cresskill’s�Subgroup�NJSLA Spring 2024 Administrations

Subgroup

ELA ≥ Level 4

Met or Exceeded Expectations

Math ≥ Level 4

Met or Exceeded Expectations

Science ≥ Level 3

Appropriate Grade-Level or Advanced Understanding

District

71%

60%

45%

FEMALE

77%

59%

43%

MALE

65%

61%

48%

IEP

24%

23%

8%

504

61%

54%

38%

ELL Learner

28%

41%

13%

WHITE

64%

53%

38%

ASIAN

84%

78%

63%

HISPANIC

60%

39%

27%

BLACK

39%

16%

–

TWO or MORE RACES

84%

80%

–

ECONOMIC DISADVANTAGE

31%

11%

–

*Subgroups that have fewer than 10 students in all categories are not reported: American Indian or Alaska Native; Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander; Migrant; Black (Science only); Two or More Races (Science only); Economic Disadvantage (Science only)

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SECTION THREE-

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Interventions & Future Implications

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Interventions & Future Implications

ELA

  • Created K-5 Literacy Coaching program to assist new teachers working closely with struggling students to address specific literacy-based needs and challenges
  • Implemented evidence-based literacy intervention programs (Orton Gillingham instruction, LLI, Fundations, Literacy Footprints) to target specific reading and writing difficulties
  • Implemented ongoing K-5 assessments to track individual progress, identify areas of improvement, and adjust interventions accordingly
  • Awarded a High Impact Tutoring Grant for students in grades 3 and 4 who are struggling with foundational reading and writing skills post COVID
  • Extended day program for students “at-risk” in grades 6-12
  • Created topic-based PD opportunities for staff, including “Feedback That Moves Writers Forward,” “Not Your Granny’s Grammar,” “Applying Fundations Skills Beyond Second Grade,” (these are a few of many opportunities)
  • Teacher PLC – “Streamlining Strategies Across MS Special Ed for Struggling Readers”
  • Continued work w/ MS Literacy Consultant to streamline 5th to 6th ELA transition
  • Integrated Instructional Tech tools (ipads) to improve whole class/small group instruction

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Interventions & Future Implications

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  • Implemented ongoing K-5 assessments to track individual progress, identify areas of improvement, and adjust interventions accordingly
  • Awarded a High Impact Tutoring Grant for students in grades 3 and 4 who are struggling with foundational mathematical skills post COVID
  • Reviewed district resources, such as Measuring Up Live, to provide support for struggling math learners
  • Extended day program for students “at-risk” in grades 6-12
  • Offered PD sessions for teachers on effective strategies for struggling students in math, including “Building Thinking Classrooms,” “Best Practices in Elementary Math Instruction”
  • K-5/MS/HS staff have been connecting Conquer Math workshops to 21st Century core competencies
  • Invested budget funds to provide more hands-on manipulatives for K-12
  • Revised 6th grade curriculum to align pacing and focus on heavily tested NJSLA standards
  • Teacher PLCs – “Improving Student Outcomes on the NJSLA Math Assessment by Better Integrating Test Prep” and “Supporting Students in Math During the 8th -9th Grade Transition Year”
  • Integrated Instructional Tech tools (ipads) to improve whole class/small group instruction

MATH

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Interventions & Future Implications

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  • Piloting Mystery Science in K-5 to increase hands-on activities for students and to embed exposure to NJSLA-related tasks
  • Implemented the use of VR headsets in high school science classes to assist students with applying real world knowledge to complex concepts about the human body and the environment
  • Increased the frequency of and modified lab based lessons for each of the 3 main content areas of Life Science, Earth and Space Science, and Physical Science
  • Implemented accommodations and modifications for students with varying needs into general education science classrooms
  • Emphasized hands-on exploration and critical thinking
  • Created PD opportunities for staff K-5 via a two-day, grade-specific Mystery Science curriculum review

SCIENCE