Williamson County Schools Superintendent Dr. Mike Looney held a press conference Tuesday morning as a celebration to WCS District’s high Tennessee Comprehension Assessment Program (TCAP) scores.
The TCAP tests are given to students in all grades from third grade and above. These tests are designed to show how students understand subjects such as math, science and language arts. Percentages of those students are measured as below basic, basic, proficient and advanced proficient from district and statewide levels.
The Tennessee Department of Education last week released the scores for each district from the 2013-14 school year, and Williamson County, again for the fourth year in a row, took the top spot. Nearly every subject at every grade level of the standardized test had seen major growth and Dr. Looney was beaming with pride.
“It’s hard to believe, but in 2010, only 59 percent of our students in grades three through eight were proficient in mathematics on the TCAP,” said Dr. Looney. “That number has grown every single year and this year, 81 percent of our [3rd through 8th grade] students are proficient in math. Isn’t that absolutely incredible?”
The good news didn’t stop there: WCS have the highest amount of students testing in the highest level of TCAP, and in 2010 there was an 80 percent of students proficient in science, today that has grown to 92 percent in grades three to eight.
Statewide, Williamson County doubled and sometimes tripled their test results to those of their peers in reading and language arts in other school districts. Even students with disabilities are making tremendous noise.
“Our students with disabilities,” Dr. Looney said, “Score higher than their non-disabled peers across the state of Tennessee. Unreal.”
State Governor Bill Haslam was also in attendance to offer his congratulations, saying “It’s no secret that there are a lot of discussions about education around the state of Tennessee, everything from the standards we’re setting, to how we’re assessing those standards, how we’re evaluating teachers and it will continue.”
“All of that is driving is to what we’re seeing today. Better outcomes for kids and even though those of us that might disagree with some methods, I think are all focused on the same outcome: having kids have more opportunity because they have better outcomes in their results.”
As classes start later this week, the goal to achieve is still set. “The plan is working,” Dr. Looney stated, “We’ve got kids coming in Friday morning and guess what? We’re going to be ready.”
