Lake Washington students continue to score well-above state average on state assessments


Lake Washington students continue to score well-above state average on state assessments

Redmond, Wash. –Lake Washington School District (LWSD) students continue to score well above the state average in all areas tested by the Smarter Balanced Assessments (SBA) and the Washington State Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS). 

“While our results are not quite back to where they were pre-pandemic, we are pleased to share these results with our community,” noted Dr. Jon Holmen, Superintendent.  “Our teachers, staff and building administrators will continue to work hard to ensure that every single student in our district is learning, growing and succeeding.”

Students in grades three through eight and in grade 10 took the Smarter Balanced Assessments in English Language Arts (ELA) and in Math. Students in grades five, eight and 11 also took science tests. 

In English Language Arts, the percent of LWSD students meeting the new standards ranged from 71.9 percent in sixth grade to a high of 81.5 percent in fifth grade. At the state level, the percent of students meeting the standard in English Language Arts ranged from 43.9 percent in grade six to a high of 62.2 percent in grade 10. (See the chart below for scores for each grade level.)

In grades three through eight Math, the percent of LWSD students meeting the standard ranged from 61.6 percent in 10th grade to a high of 78.6 percent in fourth grade. At the state level, the percent of students meeting the standard ranged from 32.1 percent in grade eight to 49.1 percent in grade three.

This year, the greatest gains for LWSD were in 10th grade ELA (an increase of 10.1% over 2021, and fourth-grade math (an increase of 9.4% over 2021). 

In LWSD, 79 percent of fifth-grade students met the science standard in 2022. At the state level, only 50 percent of fifth graders met the state science standard.

In eighth grade science, 70.3 percent of LWSD students met the standard. At the state level, only 40 percent of eighth graders met the state science standard. 

Results – Percent of students meeting standard

Table 1.  LWSD Smarter Balanced Assessment Results, ELA, Percent Meeting Standard, 2018-22.

Grade Level ELA – Lake Washington School District ELA – State
2018 2019 2021* 2022 2022
3rd Grade 81.2 81.4 79.1 77.7 47.4
4th Grade 82.3 80.8 78.9 80.7 48.9
5th Grade 84.4 85.2 77.1 81.7 51.6
6th Grade 80.6 81.7  75.8 72.1 43.9
7th Grade 82.5 84.6 77.3 78.9 51.0
8th Grade 82.3 80.9 78.1 77.7 49.2
10th Grade 88.8 88.7 71.1 81.2 62.2

*The 2021 assessment was given in the fall of 2021 and was taken by the students in their next grade level. For example, the third-grade test for 2021 was taken by fourth graders in fall 2021.

Figure 1.  Smarter Balanced Assessment Results, ELA, Percent Meeting Standard, Spring 2022.  LWSD compared to state.

SBA ELA Spring 2022, LWSD compared to state

Table 2.  LWSD Smarter Balanced Assessment Results, Math, Percent Meeting Standard, 2018-22.

Grade Level Math – Lake Washington School District Math – State
2018 2019 2021* 2022 2022
3rd Grade 79.9 81.6 76.7 78.1  49.1
4th Grade 79.9 77.6 69.6 79.0 45.5
5th Grade 75.7 75.3 60.4 69.2 38.0
6th Grade 80.1 79.1 64.3 66.7 34.2
7th Grade 77.4 81.3 67.7 68.8 35.4
8th Grade 75.0 75.5 61.5 67.4 32.1
10th Grade 72.2 71.3 54.5 61.6 30.8

*The 2021 assessment was given in the fall of 2021 and was taken by the students in their next grade level.  For example, the third grade test for 2021 was taken by fourth graders in fall 2021.

Figure 2.  Smarter Balanced Assessment Results, Math, Percent Meeting Standard, Spring 2022.  LWSD compared to state.

SBA math LWSD compared to state

Table 3.  LWSD Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science, Percent Meeting Standard, 2018-22.

 

Grade Level Science – Lake Washington School District  Science - State
2018 2019 2021* 2022 2022
5th Grade 82.0 81.7 81.5 79.0 50.0
8th Grade 78.4 77.6 78.7 70.3 40.0
11th Grade** 31.2 21.3 40.2 33.5 38.5

*The 2021 assessment was given in the fall of 2021 and was taken by the students in their next grade level.  For example, the fifth-grade test for 2021 was taken by sixth graders in fall 2021.
**The 11th grade scores are low due to a significant number of students that have refused the test over the past four years.

Figure 3.  Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science, Percent Meeting Standard, Spring 2022.  LWSD compared to state.

SBA science LWSD compared to state

 
Complete district and state scores are available in the Washington State Report Card, as compiled by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.

####

About Lake Washington: Lake Washington School District is a high-performing public school district serving Kirkland, Redmond, and Sammamish, Washington. It is the second largest district in the state of Washington, with over 30,000 students in 57 schools.
 


More news & stories