BEAUMONT -
The results are in, and they're not all great.
Three area school districts have released the Spring 2012 STAAR (State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness) test results for grades 3-8.
"We're certainly not satisfied with these scores," said Beaumont Independent School District Assistant Superintendent Dr. Dwaine Augustine.
For Port Arthur students, the passing rate was lower than the state average, in every grade, and in every category (Reading, Writing, Math, Science, and Social Studies).
Beaumont students passed at a slightly higher rate, but only met or exceeded the state average in two areas: 4th grade reading and 4th grade writing.
"In the state of Texas we've had 5 different types of testing systems, and historically when we've transitioned from one to another those tests have gotten increasingly more difficult, and this last transition is no exception," said Augustine.
But Augustine says the scores should get better in the future.
"The more we get a gauge of how our students are performing, the better we can adjust and align our instruction and some of our content to what the state's standards are," he said.
Port Neches-Groves ISD saw higher passing rates. The district met or exceeded the state average in almost every category, and did particularly well in reading, where 80% or more of students in every grade level passed.
The 2012 STAAR test scores will not be a factor in students' promotion to the next grade level this year, because the state waived the rule for the first year the test was administered.
But starting in 2013, students in 5th and 8th grade must pass the test to advance.
12 News HD is still waiting on test results from other districts.
