Academic Excellence - Iowa Basic Skills Results
Each spring we test our students using the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS). Three fundamental purposes for ITBS testing are to describe each student's developmental level within a test area, to identify a student's areas of relative strength and weakness in subject areas, and to monitor year-to-year growth in the basic skills.
It's important to understand scores are reported in the group with which the comparisons are made. A student's Iowa percentile rank (IPR) compares that student's scores with those of other students in the same grade level in Iowa who were tested at the same time of the year. The student's national percentile ranking (NPR) compares that same student's score with those of other student's in his/her grade in the nation who were tested at that same time of year. For example, if Joe earned a percentile ranking of 72 on the Language test, it means he scored higher than 72 percent of the students in the group with which he is being compared. It also means that 28 percent of the group scored higher than Joe. Other ITBS scores (not shown) include: developmental standard score (SS), percent correct (PC), raw score (RS). Iowa grade equivalent (IGE) is a measure of how far students have developed compared to other students by grade in Iowa.
We have included summary graphs that show how Ames Christian School classes compare to the core total Iowa grade equivalent, core total national grade equivalent, national percentile ranking and Iowa percentile ranking. Percentile ranks range from 1-99 (99 is best). The bar graphs include core totals (reading, language and math) and composite totals (all subjects tested). Your child's score is unique and will vary from these averages. These graphs show some key strengths of Ames Christian School including:
- Ames Christian School students are learning ahead nearly half to 1 full grade level compared to other students when comparing core total Iowa grade equivalents
- Superior national percentile rankings across grades and subjects
- Excellent Iowa percentile rankings, especially in core subjects: Reading, Language, & Math
- Very Good Iowa Composite percentile rankings
- Smaller class sizes and teachers who care about students continues to increase student learning
- Personalized Christian Education produces higher achievement levels
We will continue to review ITBS information and are already looking into additional testing programs to help us better measure progress of our students in the next school year. We continue to understand that there is room for improvement in delivering Excellence in Education. If you have any questions regarding your student's scores, please contact your classroom teacher for a conference or our administrator for more information.
