Schools

RIH Test Results Prompt AP Class Evaluation

District officials recently released a summary of HSPA, SAT, and AP scores for the Ramapo Indian Hills School District.

A recent analysis of test scores at the Ramapo and Indian Hills High Schools is causing officials to “take a closer look,” a several of the district’s Advanced Placement course offerings, District Curriculum Director Beverly Mackay announced during a scores presentation at an RIH Board of Education meeting last week.

According to the scores she presented to the Board, the district’s goal is to have an average score of 3 or higher on every AP exam it administers. AP tests, which are given at the culmination of Advanced Placement, college-level courses taught at the high schools, are scored out of 5. Colleges generally accept scores of 3 or better, prompting the district goal, she said.

Of the 24 exams given at each school, Mackay highlighted eight at Ramapo and four at Indian Hills that had an average score below 3 last year.

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Ramapo High School – Average Scores Below 3

  • Art 2D Design – 2.5
  • Calculus AB – 1.875
  • Statistics – 2.15
  • Music Theory – 2.5
  • Music Non Aural – 2
  • Macroeconomics – 2.857
  • Microeconomics – 2.828
  • European History – 2.308

Indian Hills High School – Average Scores Below 3

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  • Music Aural – 2.75
  • Music Theory – 2.75
  • Macroeconomics – 2.449
  • European History – 2.8

“We are looking at any average score that falls below a 3,” Mackay said.

“All of the curricula for the courses are approved AP curricula, so we will review that, and make sure our instructional practices support that.”

One of the district’s biggest AP concerns, she said, is AB Calculus at Ramapo.

“We are taking a very serious look at this course,” she said. “It’s important for us to address.”

Mackay also noted European History as needing district attention.

She also pointed out some highlights in the scores, like an increased number of students taking the courses and the tests, and some courses which have very high average test scores, like Calculus BC at Indian Hills, which averages a 5, the highest possible score.

“This data will guide us, and provide insight about what we are doing well, and what we need to improve,” Mackay said.


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