INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Recently released state exam results taken by local students show an increase in performance in English language arts, math and science, authorities said.
Officials said 5th and 8th grade students saw an increase in science by six points. There was also an increase of 14 points for students in algebra, which officials said puts the School District above the state average.
“Our curriculum and Instruction Department focused on some of these areas and it has paid off,” School District of Indian River County Superintendent Dr. Mark Rendell said in a statement.
The Florida Department of Education on Thursday released results for individual Florida assessments, end-of-course exams and science scores. School Board Chairman Shawn Frost said he is thrilled with the improvement in performance and noted his prior experience as a former science teacher and current employer in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) field.
“The financial support of the Board of science instruction and focus on mathematics is paying off,” Frost said in a statement. “There’s still room for improvement in the STEM fields, but we are moving the needle. Moving the test to the end of the year seems to have paid off by giving teachers more time to teach and students more time to learn.”
Highlights on score improvements for the SDIRC
• Across the district, proficiency increased in English Language Arts (ELA) by 1 percentage point, and in math by 3 percentage points in grades 3 through 8. In algebra, district wide proficiency increased 14 points from 49 percent to 63 percent.
• District scores were above the State average in Grades 3 through 8 Math, 8th grade science, algebra 1, and U.S. History.
3rd Grade: Citrus Elementary 46 to 50 percent; Dodgertown Elementary 31 to 33 percent; Fellsmere Elementary 35 to 50 percent; Indian River Academy 46 to 55 percent; Osceola Magnet 80 to 86 percent; Pelican Island Elementary 42 to 46 percent.
4th Grade: Beachland Elementary 42 to 63 percent; Fellsmere Elementary 38 to 40 percent; Citrus Elementary 37 to 43 percent; Vero Beach Elementary 27 to 36 percent; Sebastian River Elementary 42 to 69 percent; Glendale Elementary 55 to 58 percent; Indian River Academy 49 to 55 percent; Liberty Magnet 74 to 77 percent.
5th Grade: Osceola Magnet 64 to 70 percent; Pelican Island Elementary 45 to 52 percent; Citrus Elementary 46 to 50 percent; Dodgertown Elementary 34 to 38 percent; Vero Beach Elementary 27 to 30 percent; Sebastian River Elementary 46 to 48 percent; Glendale Elementary 40 to 45 percent; Liberty Magnet 61 to 72 percent; Treasure Coast Elementary 58 to 60 percent.
6th Grade: Gifford Middle 43 to 50 percent; Oslo Middle 34 to 36 percent.
8th Grade: Gifford Middle 53 to 66 percent; Sebastian River Middle 42 to 46 percent; Oslo Middle 42 to 50 percent.
9th Grade: Sebastian River High 40 to 44 percent; Vero Beach High 47 to 51 percent
Math
3rd Grade: Rosewood Elementary 61 to 66 percent; Osceola Magnet 72 to 86 percent; Fellsmere Elementary 42 to 56 percent; Sebastian River Elementary 55 to 59 percent; Glendale Elementary 55 to 58 percent; Indian River Academy 41 to 49 percent;
4th Grade: Beachland Elementary 42 to 59 percent; Fellsmere Elementary 38 to 54 percent; Citrus Elementary 39 to 53 percent; Sebastian Elementary 40 to 58 percent; Indian River Academy 52 to 59 percent; Treasure Coast Elementary 63 to 72 percent.
5th Grade: Osceola Magnet 69 to 80 percent; Pelican Island Elementary 37 to 48 percent; Dodgertown Elementary 34 to 42 percent; Sebastian Elementary 47 to 51 percent; Glendale Elementary 46 to 53 percent; Indian River Academy 43 to 51 percent; Liberty Magnet 72 to 84 percent; Treasure Coast Elementary 59 to 73 percent
6th Grade: Gifford Middle 44 to 56 percent; Oslo Middle 25 to 35 percent; Storm Grove 44 to 56 percent
7th Grade: Oslo Middle 39 to 42 percent
8th Grade: Gifford Middle 26 to 46 percent; Sebastian River Middle 38 to 44 percent; Oslo Middle 49 to 51 percent; Storm Grove 56 to 60 percent
Algebra
Algebra: Across the district, proficiency increased 14 percentage points from 49 to 63 percent.
Gifford Middle School 90 to 97 percent; Vero Beach High School 26 to 43 percent; Oslo Middle School 70 to 92 percent; Sebastian River High School 37 to 40 percent
Geometry: Gifford Middle 97 to 100 percent; Sebastian River High School 49 to 55 percent; and Storm Grove maintained 100 percent
Science
5th Grade: 6 percentage points increase from 48 to 54 percent
8th Grade: 6 percentage points increase from 47 to 53 percent
Biology: Across the district, proficiency increased 2 percentage points from 60 to 62 percent
Biology: Sebastian River High School increased 6 points
Social Studies
Civics: Sebastian River Middle School increased 4 percentage points from 65 to 69 percent
US History: Across the district, proficiency increased 1 percentage point
