CATHOLIC SCHOOLS Scores are well above the norm

The diocese voluntarily released its report card showing systemwide results.
YOUNGSTOWN -- Roman Catholic schools in the Diocese of Youngstown have been performing well compared to state and national averages on standardized tests, the diocese said.
On the nationally standardized Iowa Tests of Basic Skills administered last spring, where the national norm is the 50th percentile, diocesan third-graders had an average composite score in the 76th percentile, while fourth- and fifth-graders were in the 75th percentile and sixth- and seventh-graders were in the 72nd percentile.
In other words, the typical diocesan sixth- or seventh-grader scored as well as, or better than, 72 out of 100 pupils nationally in the same respective grades. The composite score is the combined score on the reading, language and math tests.
The diocesan system, which has 43 elementary schools and six high schools serving nearly 13,000 pupils in six counties, voluntarily issued the report card showing systemwide results on various tests.
The results show that diocesan schools "are providing excellent programs that lead to significant student achievement," said Dr. Michael Skube, diocesan schools superintendent. "Parents' investment in Catholic schools is an important way to assure their children's growth in the Catholic faith and academic progress."
Ohio Graduation Test
The report card also showed diocesan sophomores did well last March on the Ohio Graduation Test, which this year's sophomores must pass to graduate in 2007. In the diocesan high schools, 93 percent of sophomores scored at or above the proficient level in reading and 83 percent scored at or above proficient in math, compared with statewide public high school averages of 77.5 percent in reading and 67.1 percent in math.
Last year's diocesan sophomores also took the state's ninth-grade proficiency test, which is being phased out, with 99 percent passing the citizenship section, 95 percent passing math, 100 percent for reading, 99 percent for writing and 97 percent for science. Only 85 percent had to pass to meet the state standard there.
The diocesan schools attendance rate was 96 percent, exceeding the state standard of 93 percent; and the diocesan high school graduation rate was 99.5 percent, compared with the state standard of 90 percent. The graduation rate is the percentage of entering freshmen who graduate four years later.
The diocesan schools also beat the national average on a national Catholic test of religious knowledge. Diocesan fifth-graders had a composite score of 75.4. compared with the national average of 71.4. For eighth-graders, the numbers were 74.4 and 71.2, respectively. For seniors, they were 71 and 70.8, respectively.