Achievement
Standardized tests are one way to measure achievement. CCS uses the Terra Nova, Third Edition Achievement Test in all grade levels and carefully tracks each grade, each subject, and each student in order to work appropriately for success. The Terra Nova is a rigorous test with updated norms. The Terra Nova holds the largest portion of the achievement testing market which allows it to offer the largest comparison groups. Scores are made up of national percentile, scale scores, normal curve equivalents, and performance levels.
To better understand scoring:
Scale Score (SS). Describes achievement on a continuum that spans the complete range of Kindergarten through 12th grade. Scale scores range from 100-900 as the student’s achievement grows.
Performance Levels. These five levels are based on the student’s scale score and are viewed as steps along a path toward the goal of proficient or advanced performance level.
National Percentile (NP). Is the percentage of students in a norm group whose scores fall below a given student’s score. For example, a student that scored at the 75th percentile in reading indicates that the student scored at or above the score of 75% of the students nationwide in reading.
Normal Curve Equivalent (NCE). This scale ranges from 1-99 and coincides with the National Percentile scale at 1, 50, and 99. NCEs have many of the same characteristics as percentile ranks, but have the additional advantage of being based on an equal-interval score.
CCS scores in this year’s achievement tests are excellent. We see particularly high scores in the core subject areas of reading, spelling, language, vocabulary and math. Children are also tested, and score very well in, science and social studies. While such high scores are a credit to teachers and curriculum, it is strongly a credit to families at CCS. Parents are deeply committed to the academic well-being of their children, and the partnership parents have with CCS is vital to the success of the program and to the individual student.
Points of Comparison for the 2011-2012 school year
- Comparing National Percentile scores, CCS overall scored in the 81st percentile, meaning that CCS scored at or above the score of 81% of students nationwide.
- Comparing National Percentile scores to those published by the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools (MAIS), CCS measures significantly higher, an average of 23% higher than MAIS scores.
- Comparing National Percentile of the Mean NCE scores to the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI), which are schools most like CCS, and our best point of comparison, CCS measures an average of 9% higher.
- CCS students are classified as proficient or high proficient across the board. We were particularly pleased to see first grade as advanced in reading. While advanced is not uncommon for individual students, it is rare for an entire grade.
We will work to continue excellence at Christ Covenant School and to see scores continue to remain in the proficient to high proficient and even advanced level. It is exciting to see students progressing so well in academics, but even more to see them grow in their understanding of Jesus Christ and to watch how that impacts their lives forever.
What good is it for man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Mark 8:36
updated 1/10/12
