Catholic grade school pupils show improvement on tests

By Michelle Martin
Staff writer

Catholic school officials are justifiably proud of the latest round of standardized test scores, which show that on average, students in archdiocesan schools score better than their peers across the country at all grade levels tested.

What’s more, the scores on the Terra Nova achievement tests showed that the longer students spent in archdiocesan schools, the more their performance improved.

“We’re very proud of these scores,” said school Superintendent Elaine M. Schuster. “They indicate a quality academic experience in the Catholic schools.”

Overall, Catholic school third- graders in Cook and Lake counties scored better than 67 percent of students nationwide in the three core areas of reading, language and math. Fifth-graders scored better than 69 percent of their peers across the country, and seventh-graders scored better than 75 percent of their peers.

Average percentile scores for students in Chicago Catholic schools were seven to nine points lower. The 92 inner-city schools supported with scholarships and grants from the Big Shoulders Fund posted average percentile scores about 10 points lower than all Chicago Catholic Schools.

However, students in schools supported by the fund showed improvement over time.

“In our Catholic schools, we accept the students at the learning level they come to us with,” Schuster said. “We take them where they are and move them forward. You have to recognize the fact that we have students coming to us with different levels of preparation and ability.”

Those who do not have as much preparation as other students need more time to catch up, she said. The important thing, she said, is to understand that the average score in all categories, including Big Shoulders schools, showed that students were ready to be successful in high school.

While the archdiocese released average scores, it does not release the average score for each of the 264 individual schools whose students took the Terra Nova test this spring. Those schools may choose to release their own scores in whatever way is most helpful to their communities, Schuster said. But school officials must understand that the tests should be used to help principals and teachers evaluate students’ progress and the schools’ curriculum, not to rank schools.

The archdiocese chose the Terra Nova test, published by the California Achievement Test division of McGraw-Hill, because it is based on national curriculum standards. It goes beyond multiple choice, including writing samples and opportunities for students to complete sentences.

Many factors contribute to the success of Catholic schools, Schuster said.

“We have the advantage of parents very clearly choosing us,” she said. “This is the school, the atmosphere, the values base they want their children to be in.”

When parents make that choice, they are more likely to stay involved in their children’s education, and children whose parents are involved usually do better academically, Schuster said.

Catholic schools also draw on a tradition that includes faith and values, and expects students to do well.

“We have a culture that the students are here to do their very best, and we are here to help them do their very best,” Schuster said.

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