While students in Greenville spent much of last week taking Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) exams, Greenville ISD learned the results of tests given earlier in April.
Eighty-five percent of Greenville fifth grade students and 79 percent of eighth grade students passed the math TAKS on the first administration. This is significant because students in those two grades must pass the math and reading exams in order to be promoted to the next grade.
This is the first year that eighth-graders must pass the TAKS to advance to the ninth grade. Stakes on the TAKS are highest for third, fifth and eighth graders, who must pass to be promoted, and for high school seniors, who must pass to graduate.
At the fifth grade level, 85 percent of the 284 students who tested passed the exam. At the eighth grade level, 79 percent of the 234 students who tested passed.
Students who did not pass the fifth and eighth-grade math exam will have a chance to retake the test on May 13 and July 1.
If a student does not pass the tests required for promotion, he or she is retained. However, the student’s parents can appeal the retention decision to a Grade Placement Committee, composed of the parents, the child’s teacher and the principal.
Committee members can review all available information and, by unanimous agreement, elect to promote the student.
Regardless of whether the student who failed TAKS is retained or promoted, additional instructional help, such as tutoring or extra math or reading classes, are made available to the child.
TAKS testing for other grades and subjects continued last week. Those results are expected to be released in late May.
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