LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / November 27, 1999

LULING – Reading assessment data for St. Charles Parish kindergartenthrough third grades for fall 1999 have been released, and it shows a majority of students at every elementary school are reading above grade level.

Rochelle Touchard, speaking for the public school system, said the percentage also improved, comparing test scores from this fall to last spring.

“When the state Department of Education called us and asked what we were spending our Reading Initiative money on to get such scores, we told them we were spending the money on math,” Touchard said.

She added, “It’s amazing what a summer can do, with summer schools, tutoring and parental support, especially parental support. That’s key.”For example, in spring 1999, 743 first-graders were tested as to reading comprehension, and 143 students, or 19 percent, were below grade level.

By fall, those numbers went to 110 students, or 16 percent, an improvement as more are reading at a higher level.

Of last spring’s 743 first-graders, 267, or 36 percent, were reading at grade level. By the fall, those numbers improved to 171 students, or 25percent, as more are reading at a higher level.

Of last spring’s first-graders, 333 students, or 45 percent, were reading above grade level. By the fall, that improved to 408 students, or 59percent.

There were 755 second-graders in the spring. Of these, 79 students, or 11percent, were reading below grade level. By the fall, of the 778 studentstested, 60 students, or 8 percent, were reading below grade level.

Out of that same test group of 755 second-grade students, 299 students, or 40 percent, were reading at grade level. By the fall, that numberdropped to 214 students, or 28 percent.

Finally, among fall’s 755 second-grade students, 377 students, or 50 percent, were reading above grade level. By the fall, 504 students, or 65percent of the semester’s 778 students were reading above grade level.

Test scores, school by school, are: Allemands Elementary Grade 2 – Tested 83 students. Eight below gradelevel, or 10 percent; 23 on grade level, or 28 percent; and 52 above grade level, or 63 percent.

Carver Elementary Grade 3 – Tested 131 students. Ten below grade level,or 8 percent; 52 at grade level, or 40 percent; and 69 above grade level, or 53 percent.

Luling Elementary Grade 2 – Tested 106 students. Twenty-two belowgrade level, or 21 percent; 38 at grade level, or 36 percent; and 46 above grade level, or 43 percent.

Mimosa Park Elementary Grade 2 – Tested 143 students. Thirteen belowgrade level, or 9 percent; 18 at grade level, or 13 percent; and 112 above grade level, or 78 percent.

Mimosa Park Elementary Grade 3 – Tested 179 students. Nine belowgrade level, or 5 percent; 22 at grade level, or 12 percent; and 112 above grade level, or 83 percent.

New Sarpy Elementary Grade 2 – Tested 162 students. Twenty-twobelow grade level, or 14 percent; 43 at grade level, or 27 percent; 97 above grade level, or 60 percent.

New Sarpy Elementary Grade 3 – Tested 199 students. Sixteen belowgrade level, or 8 percent; 45 at grade level, or 23 percent; and 138 above grade level or 69 percent.

Norco Primary Grade 2 – Tested 93 students. Twenty-one below gradelevel, or 23 percent; 21 at grade level, or 23 percent; and 51 above grade level, or 55 percent.

Norco Primary Grade 3 – Tested 73 students. Five below grade level, or 7percent; 24 at grade level, or 33 percent; and 44 above grade level, or 60 percent.

R.J. Vial Elementary Grade 3 – Tested 88 students. Six below grade level,or 7 percent; 17 at grade level, or 19 percent; and 65 above grade level, or 74 percent.

St. Rose Primary Grade 2 – Tested 102 students. Twenty-four belowgrade level, or 24 percent; 28 at grade level, or 27 percent; and 50 above grade level, or 49 percent.

St. Rose Primary Grade 3 – Tested 108 students. Fourteen below gradelevel, or 13 percent; 54 at grade level, or 50 percent; and 40 above grade level, or 37 percent.

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