Cy-Fair ISD students score higher than state averages on end-of-course exams

Cy-Fair ISD ninth graders achieved higher scores on all end-of-course exams than the statewide average in each category, according to preliminary data presented at a June 11 board meeting.

Students in ninth grade took four end-of-course exams this spring in math, science, English and social studies. Seventy-six percent of CFISD ninth graders passed the English reading exam, 61 percent passed the English writing test, 93 percent passed biology, 89 percent passed world geography and 90 percent passed the algebra exam.

Three different standardized tests were given to students during the 2011-12 school year. Students in grades three through eight took the new STAAR test, pupils in ninth grade took end-of-course exams, and students in tenth through eleventh grade took the TAKS test.

"This is our baseline data and gives us the opportunity to see where our strengths are and where there are opportunities for us to grow and improve," said Roy Garcia, associate superintendent for curriculum, instruction and school administration.

CFISD students performed best on the algebra and biology end-of-course exams. According to statewide data released by the Texas Education Agency, 68 percent of students in Texas passed the English reading test, 55 percent passed English writing, 87 percent passed biology, 81 percent passed world geography and 83 percent passed algebra.

For students in grades three through eight, only raw scores—the number of questions answered correctly—are available because grading standards will not be set until the fall. Final scores will be released to students in early 2013.