By LEONARD GRAY

LAPLACE – Summer school, for those fourth-, eighth- and 10th-grade students who scored Unsatisfactory on one or both major sections of the Louisiana Educational Assessment Program tests and the Graduate Exit Exam tests, will take up a sizeable block of time to enable them to advance to the next grade.

Scores throughout the River Parishes, though, offered signs of improvement and progress. Fourth- and eighth-grade scores showed gains in English/Language Arts but math scores around Louisiana indicated slipping passing rates, while students catch up to the ever-higher mandated state standards.

In St. John the Baptist Parish, the district posted a 90.1 percent passing rate in English among regular education fourth-graders and a 93.8 percent passing rate in English among regular education eighth-graders. Altogether, a 13 percent improvement in the passing rate of fourth- and eighth-graders was recorded in English.

Math scores showed a “somewhat disappointing” 76.5 passing rate among regular education fourth-graders and a 71.5 passing rate among regular education eighth-graders, according to Superintendent Mike Coburn.

In some schools, Coburn said, the passing rate was nearly 100 percent in English, especially at John L. Ory and LaPlace elementary schools. Eighth-graders at Garyville/Mt. Airy Magnet School likewise scored at nearly 100 percent in English.

These were, Coburn said, “some fantastic gains,” but admitted the district “took a hit in mathematics across the parish.”

“We’re certainly not where we want to be. We definitely have our work cut out for us,” Coburn said. “We’re making progress – no doubt about it.”

LEAP Grade Four

English Language Arts – In this category, fourth-graders slashed its Unsatisfactory percentage from 28 percent in 2000 to 24 percent in 2001 to only 17 percent this year.

Mathematics – In this category, fourth-graders trimmed its Unsatisfactory percentage from 37 percent in 2000 to 32 percent in 2001 to only 29 percent this year.

LEAP Grade Eight

English Language Arts – In this category, eighth-graders got back on track. After posting an 18 percent failure rate in 2000, dropping to 20 percent in 2001, they improved back to 18 percent this year.

Mathematics – In this category, eighth-graders lost ground. After posting an 42 percent failure rate in 2000, they improved to 35 percent in 2001, but faded to a 40 percent rate this year.

Graduate Exit Exam – Grade 10

English Language Arts – Students in this category had a 35 percent failure rate this year, compared to 27 percent in 2001.

Mathematics – Students in this category had a 52 percent failure rate this year, compared to 44 percent in 2001.

Summer school for St. John the Baptist Parish will be held June 3-July 11, at Glade School, Garyville/Mt. Airy and West St. John Elementary. English/language arts classes will be on Mondays and Wednesdays and math on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Class sizes will be 18 students per teacher.

St. Charles Parish Superintendent Dr. Rodney Lafon’s staff is still analyzing the LEAP and GEE test results, according to district spokeswoman Rochelle Touchard.

Scores, however, reflecting a slip in English scores in eighth grade and a slightly higher failure rate in 10th grade English. Math scores improved for fourth- and eighth-grades, but 10th-graders showed a sharp jump in failure rates. Fourth-graders, though, continued to improve across the board.

LEAP Grade Four

English Language Arts – In this category, fourth-graders are turning their numbers around, with 7 percent Unsatisfactory in 1999, 7 percent in 2000, 8 percent in 2001 and 6 percent this year.

Mathematics – In this category, fourth-graders went from 18 percent Unsatisfactory in 1999, to 12 percent in 2000 and 2001, and 14 percent this year.

LEAP Grade Eight

English Language Arts – In this category, eighth-graders slipped slightly, from 9 percent Unsatisfactory in 1999, improving to 5 percent in 2000 and 2001, but slipping to 6 percent this year.

Mathematics – In this category, eighth-graders continued to improve, from 21 percent Unsatisfactory in 1999, to 18 percent in 2000, 15 percent in 2001, to 12 percent this year.

Graduate Exit Exam – Grade 10

English Language Arts – Students in this category had a 12 percent failure rate this year, compared to 9 percent in 2001.

Mathematics – Students in this category had a 23 percent failure rate this year, compared to 14 percent in 2001.

Summer school dates for grades four and eight students are June 10-July 10 at Hurst Middle School; and for grade 10 students are June 10-28 at Hahnville High School.

When asked about the recently released test scores, Dr. P. Edward Cancienne, superintendent for St. James Parish Public School District, said, “We’re closing the gap, but there’s much more improvements to be made.”

Fourth-graders had an 84 percent passing rate in English and a 77 percent passing rate in math. Eighth-graders had an 82 percent passing rate in English and a 67 percent passing rate in math.

He was elated at the gains in the eighth-grade scores, a sizeable jump from last year’s 73 percent in English and 53 percent in math, but Cancienne admitted to being disappointed in the high school scores. The 10th-graders scored only 69 percent passing the English portion, and only 56 percent passed the math portion.

Cancienne said progress would be made, but, “It’s just not going to happen overnight.”

LEAP Grade Four

English Language Arts – In this category, fourth-graders had a 28 percent Unsatisfactory rate in 1999 and 2000, 16 percent in 2001 and 16 percent again this year.

Mathematics – In this category, fourth-graders had a 38 percent Unsatisfactory rate in 1999, 25 percent in 2000, 26 percent in 2001 and 33 percent this year.

LEAP Grade Eight

English Language Arts – In this category, eighth-graders had a 29 percent Unsatisfactory rate in 1999, improved to 19 percent in 2000, 26 percent in 2001 and 18 percent this year.

Mathematics – In this category, eighth-graders had a 60 percent Unsatisfactory rate in 1996, improved to 48 percent in 2000, 46 percent in 2001 and 33 percent this year.

Graduate Exit Exam – Grade 10

English Language Arts – Students in this category had a 31 percent failure rate this year, compared to 29 percent in 2001.

Mathematics – Students in this category had a 52 percent failure rate this year, compared to 34 percent in 2001.

St. James summer school will be held June 3-July 11, at Gramercy Elementary for East Bank students and Sixth Ward Elementary for West Bank students.