| By Jenna Ladouceur |
This blog was originally posted by Peterson’s and is reposted here.
The Significance of Standardized Test Scores
Beyond simple metrics and opportunity, standardized test scores are used for so much more—accountability, resource allocation, and identifying areas for improvement within a district. With an impact on school ratings and community perception, low standardized test scores can hurt a school’s reputation. Systematic issues exist and contribute to low standardized test scores, including resource disparities, teacher turnover, and changing student demographics. These systematic issues require an overhaul; yet, in the meantime, they present an opportunity for strategic intervention.
Being an administrator, teacher, or a district leader means balancing both moral and practical responsibilities in educational leadership to ensure that all students have the opportunity to succeed. Spurring academic achievement is crucial to future student success in college and careers. In this blog, we provide practical strategies and best practices for educators and district leaders to improve standardized test scores. Amid ever-evolving budgets, we discuss solutions and emphasize actionable steps that district leaders and educators can implement now.
The Foundation: Data-Driven Decision Making and Needs Assessment
Analyzing current standardized test scores will help identify gaps in student learning. With a granular data review, you will be able to see where subject-specific difficulties are emerging, along with gap trends. By going beyond overall scores, you can disaggregate data by grade level, subject area, student groups, and even specific question types—pinpointing precise areas of weakness, leading to targeted interventions.
Beyond the Numbers: Understanding Root Causes of Low Standardized Test Scores
Qualitative analysis is the bees-knees. For strategic standardized test score intervention, we need to assess:
- What instructional practices are in place?
- What resources are available?
- Are there professional development gaps?
- Are students experiencing significant test anxiety?
Evaluating the answers to these questions will help us go beyond surface-level data to identify underlying factors. Continue reading the full blog here.
Is your school ready for more robust test prep resources? Explore Gale Presents: Peterson’s Test and Career Prep and request a demo.