One At a Time: A Look Behind the Numbers
by Randy Ewing
April 14, 2008
Five years ago Texas began a new era. TAKS came into our lives. Since it began in 2003 many things have changed. Some of the seniors from that year have now been through college and are beginning their careers. The eighth graders from that year are finishing their first year of college or work. Some of the babies born that year are now first graders. Many students have taken many tests in those years. Probably too many tests have been taken, but that is the world in which we live.
In the first year of TAKS, only 43% of our students in Lytle met the state’s “Panel Recommended” student passing standard on the Math test. Five years later 68% met the standard. These are just numbers. They show impressive gains, but they are just numbers. Behind the numbers are individual children. Across the state one percent of the students is equal to thousands of students. In Lytle one percent is usually about one student per grade level. So, when teachers and students manage to work hard enough to make a difference of 25%, that means about 25 more students at each grade level are successful now than were successful five years ago. When one considers there are nine grade levels tested each year, there are about 225 more successful students now than there were five years ago. Nine grade levels with about 100 students each means there about 900 students tested each year.
We are pleased to have so many more students experiencing success now than in the past. We are also aware that until all students are experiencing success, it is not good enough. To that end, we will continue to remember behind every number is a student and with every student there is success waiting to happen.
Ramey and Ramey - Theoretical Framework
