End Of Course Tests Show Gains For Fifth Consecutive Year
BATON ROUGE, La. - The Department today announced Louisiana high school students saw consistent improvement on End-of-Course (EOC) exams, improving by 4 percent since 2012 and up 16 percent since 2009. EOC exams have been administered to students enrolled in five subjects: Algebra I, English II, English III, Geometry and Biology. This year, a sixth subject, U.S. History was added. English II saw the most pronounced improvement, with 10 percent more students scoring Good or above.
"Louisiana students should be incredibly proud of this improvement. Our educators and families have made it a priority that students master fundamental skills in high school, ultimately preparing our kids for college or a career," said State Superintendent John White. "This also shows that even as Louisiana raises the bar- our kids are as smart as any others and can meet the challenge."
These exams are designed to measure whether students have mastered the required knowledge, skills, and abilities of the tested course with the ultimate goal of preparing students for college or career. Students received one of four achievement levels on these exams: Excellent, Good, Fair, or Needs Improvement. To earn a passing score, students must score Fair or higher. Students must pass three EOC tests in the following categories: English II or English III, Algebra I or Geometry, and Biology or U.S. History. A rating of Excellent or Good demonstrates proficiency in a particular subject.
Many districts saw even more pronounced growth on End of Course tests, leading the state average.
| District Name | December 2011 and May 2012 | December 2012 and May 2013 | Change from 2012-2013 |
| Union Parish | 35 | 47 | 12 |
| Evangeline Parish | 52 | 64 | 12 |
| East Carroll Parish | 41 | 52 | 11 |
| Pointe Coupee Parish | 38 | 49 | 11 |
| Jackson Parish | 48 | 58 | 10 |
| DeSoto Parish | 51 | 60 | 9 |
| Iberville Parish | 40 | 48 | 8 |
| Plaquemines Parish | 64 | 72 | 8 |
| St. Charles Parish | 63 | 71 | 8 |
| Vernon Parish | 67 | 75 | 8 |
| West Carroll Parish | 58 | 66 | 8 |
The following districts were the top ten performing in the state on End-of-Course tests.
| District Name | December 2011 and May 2012 | December 2012 and May 2013 |
| Zachary Community Schools | 74 | 75 |
| St. Tammany Parish | 71 | 75 |
| Vernon Parish | 67 | 75 |
| Central Community Schools | 70 | 75 |
| Vermilion Parish | 72 | 75 |
| Ascension Parish | 68 | 74 |
| Plaquemines Parish | 64 | 72 |
| St. Bernard Parish | 70 | 72 |
| Livingston Parish | 67 | 71 |
| St. Charles Parish | 63 | 71 |
Algebra I, English II, Geometry, Biology, English III, and U.S. History Annual Comparisons
Percentage of Students Scoring Proficient in Algebra I
| 2007-2008 | 2008-2009 | 2009-2010 | 2010-2011 | 2011-2012 | 2012-2013 |
| Excellent or Good | 37 | 38 | 41 | 51 | 56 | 55 |
| Fair or Needs Improvement | 63 | 62 | 59 | 48 | 44 | 45 |
Percentage of Students Scoring Proficient in English II
| 2008-2009 | 2009-2010 | 2010-2011 | 2011-2012 | 2012-2013 |
| Excellent or Good | 49 | 54 | 61 | 66 | 75 |
| Fair or Needs Improvement | 51 | 46 | 39 | 34 | 25 |
Percentage of Students Scoring Proficient in Geometry
| 2009-2010 | 2010-2011 | 2011-2012 | 2012-2013 |
| Excellent or Good | 34 | 41 | 50 | 55 |
| Fair or Needs Improvement | 66 | 59 | 50 | 45 |
Percentage of Students Scoring Proficient in Biology
| 2010-2011 | 2011-2012 | 2012-2013 |
| Excellent or Good | 43 | 51 | 58 |
| Fair or Needs Improvement | 58 | 48 | 42 |
Percentage of Students Scoring Proficient in English III
| 2011-2012 | 2012-2013 |
| Excellent or Good | 50 | 58 |
| Fair or Needs Improvement | 49 | 41 |
Percentage of Students Scoring Proficient in U.S. History
| 2012-2013 |
| Excellent or Good | 53 |
| Fair or Needs Improvement | 47 |
NOTE: The percentages of students across achievement levels may not total 100, due to rounding.
For more detailed information at the state, district and school levels, please visit the High School and Career and College Readiness Data Center.
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