Wyckoff Test Scores 'Remain High' on First Common Core-Aligned Exam

Officials at the Wyckoff school district are reporting that changes to the state’s NJ ASK exam last year to align it with the new Common Core standards did not cause a drop in township students’ scores.

During a presentation at the last Board of Education meeting, district Director of Curriculum Diane Schulthes said Wyckoff students are still testing at “very high levels,” despite the changes in the state exam.

2013 was “the first year the test reflected the Common Core standards,” Schulthes said.

“This is a good indicator of how aligned our curriculum is.”

Schulthes also said that the results are a positive indicator for the district’s readiness for the new state test, the PARCC exam, which will be rolled out to schools across the state next year.

Although the format of the PARCC exam will be very different, the content will be similar to what students saw on the NJ ASK last year, she said.

In almost every grade level and subject area, Wyckoff reported higher scores on the NJ ASK than did the schools in its “District Factor Group.”

The following percentages represent proficiency levels based on the 2013 NJ ASK results.

4th Grade ELA

Wyckoff: 86.9

DFG: 78.6

8th Grade ELA

Wyckoff: 98

DFG: 93.6

4th Grade Math

Wyckoff: 92.9

DFG: 91

8th Grade Math

Wyckoff: 91.3

DFG: 84.9

4th Grade Science

Wyckoff: 99

DFG: 96.8

8th Grade Science

Wyckoff: 95.3

DFG: 93

“The results speak for themselves,” Schulthes said.

“We are in the 85th to 99th percentile in every grade level. This was the first year that the test was in line with the Common Core, and we didn’t experience a drop in results. That’s significant.”