CATS Testing. We’ve all
heard of it – but what is it really?
Kentucky's educational reforms are based upon the principle that schools
must be held accountable for the progress of their students. The
Kentucky Core Content Test (KCCT) is designed to improve
teaching and student learning in Kentucky. The over-riding goal of the
Kentucky Core Content Testing System (KCCT) is to encourage and
enable educators in each public school to increase the academic
achievement of their students.
Success in accomplishing this goal is measured by the percentage of
students scoring Distinguished or Proficient. The goal is for
every school in Kentucky to have 100% of their students scoring
Distinguished or Proficient in reading and math by 2014.
Scores for 2008 in reading and math are:
Reading: 73.17% of our students
scored Distinguished or Proficient
Math: 76.17% of our students scored
Distinguished or Proficient
In the past, parents and prospective parents have asked me about the
test scores at Middletown. For several years our scores were not as high
as other schools. Our school took a serious look at the scores and what
we were or were not doing each instructional day. We had to FOCUS our
instruction and teach the children the PURPOSE of what they were
learning. When the children knew what they were learning and why, they
became confident in their abilities. During KCCT testing week in April,
the teachers saw confident students doing “their best on the test”.
Our instruction is now focused on giving students the tools they need to
become successful. We are building confident learners that are eager to
share what they know. As a result, Middletown has made huge gains by
reducing the percentage of novice students to 7.35% in reading and 12%
in math and increasing the
number of proficient/distinguished students.
Can we continue to improve? Without a doubt, we can continue our forward
progress. We will continue to teach all students to proficiency and will
not give up on any child. Our teaching staff is dedicated to reaching
our goals and becoming a school that will continue each year to improve
and grow.
For more information on the KCCT tests and how they are scored, take a
look at the 2008 KCCT
Interpretive Guide.
Patty Salyer
Principal
