Fewer than half of South Dakota’s students were deemed proficient in their understanding of math and science on state assessment tests, according to the state Department of Education’s annual Report Card.
Here is a look at how students fared in terms of proficiency in three subject areas, based on standardized tests, according to the 2019 South Dakota Report Card for several school districts across the state.
District English Math Science
Aberdeen 60% 51% 38%
Brookings 59% 46% 48%
Brandon Valley 72% 66% 57%
Douglas (Box Elder) 55% 48% 39%
Huron 47% 39% 32%
Harrisburg 62% 56% 47%
Meade Cty (Sturgis) 59% 51% 51%
Mitchell 58% 56% 37%
Pierre 60% 54% 54%
Rapid City 51% 43% 37%
Sioux Falls 51% 44% 42%
Spearfish 55% 49% 42%
Watertown 65% 56% 51%
Yankton 62% 53% 47%
Source: S.D. Report Card, 2019
Last year, 54 percent of South Dakota students in grades three through eight and 11th-graders showed themselves to be proficient in reading and writing through South Dakota’s assessment tests. About 47 percent of those same students tested as proficient in math for their respective grade levels.
Students in grades five, eight and 11, meanwhile, were tested on their grade-level appropriate science literacy. Roughly 40 percent of students were deemed proficient in that subject. South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem told South Dakota News Watch reporters, last week, that she was not happy with how the state’s students performed on assessment tests in reading, writing, math and science.
But there’s good news in the report card too.
Around 84 percent of South Dakota’s class of 2019 passed their required math, english and science courses on top of their other requirements and graduated on-time, state data show. Another 6 percent were projected to graduate before they turn 21, according to the Report Card.
Overall, the state’s high school completion rate was projected to be 90 percent.
The state Report Card also said that nearly two-thirds of the state’s high school students had passed at least one course that could result in earning a college or tech school credit or toward certification in a skilled trade.
Meanwhile, 56 percent of students were deemed assessment ready, meaning they were proficient on at least one state assessment test. Around 48 percent of the state’s students both tested as proficient and passed a dual credit, Advanced Placement or trade preparation class to earn the distinction of college or career ready.
Economically disadvantaged and Native American students, though, continue to have lower graduation rates and proficiency score, the report card shows.
State Department of Education Secretary Dr. Ben Jones says Noem asked him to form a committee to find solutions for the issue earlier this year.
(SD News Watch)