In the hustle and bustle of Houston, something big is happening in the Houston Independent School District (HISD) classrooms. It’s that time of the year again – the STAAR exams are in full swing. But behind the scenes, there’s a buzz of discussion and debate about what these tests really mean for our kids.
According to the Texas Education Agency, the test results indicate whether a student has mastered specific knowledge in core subjects at their grade level.
Parents have voiced concerns to the district, suggesting that the state-appointed administration is overly focused on test performance rather than considering students’ overall educational journey.
KPRC 2 reporter Candace Burns, who has been immersed in Fleming Middle School since the start of her “Focus on Fleming” initiative, sat down with teachers to discuss the pressures surrounding testing this month.
At NES schools like Fleming Middle, students engage in regular quizzes to gauge their understanding of the material.
Mrs. Lyndsy Mason, a dedicated sixth-grade math teacher at Fleming, shared her perspective on the STAAR test.
“Normally, I’m a bit anxious about STAAR. My anxiety tends to peak, wondering how well they’ll perform. But this year, I’m not as nervous because I know they’ve had a solid, consistent year without too many disruptions,” Mason explained.
She believes her students are well-prepared, attributing their confidence to learning beyond mere test-taking skills.
“I’m definitely not teaching just to the test. I haven’t once looked at the test before teaching this year. We’re delving into real-life scenarios. For instance, discussing an eclipse, which won’t appear on any math test. We relate math to everyday experiences like shopping, their grades, and the growth percentages,” Mason emphasized.
She highlighted the importance of critical thinking skills, noting how today’s students excel at justifying their reasoning compared to years past.
In previous years, Mrs. Mason noted, the district would dedicate weeks to STAAR preparation, but not this year, at least not on Fleming Middle School’s campus. In addition to STAAR, NES campuses will administer the NWEA’s Map Growth Exam three times a year to measure student growth.
“So, from the beginning-of-year assessment to the mid-year assessments we took in September, we’ve shown an average of about 40% growth by January. Did they meet or exceed? Only a few exceeded, but the majority met their growth,” Mason elaborated. She stressed the significance of high achievement, explaining that it’s not just about growth, but about reaching or surpassing grade-level expectations. Despite the growth, students may still have low achievement if they’re not performing at grade level.
If you’ve missed it, catch up on our yearlong coverage at Fleming Middle School:
First look inside Fleming Middle School, the HISD campus KPRC 2 will spend a year chronicling
‘I don’t like that 10-minute timer’: Students express concerns with NES Model