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Most Valley elementary students hit reading mark
By Denise Dick
YOUNGSTOWN
Only eight elementary schools in Mahoning and Trumbull counties fell below the state test average for third-graders to advance to fourth grade last school year.
The Ohio Department of Education last week released Third Grade Reading Guarantee results, which are part of the kindergarten-through-third-grade literacy measure on the state report cards. The data released are for the 2014-15 school year.
Only Youngstown’s William Holmes McGuffey and Williamson elementary schools, Southington, LaBrae Intermediate and all four of Warren’s elementary buildings saw fewer than 94 percent, the state average, of third-graders advance a grade.
But 100 percent of all third-graders at 24 elementary schools in the two counties advanced.
That includes Youngstown’s Paul C. Bunn, Boardman’s Stadium Drive and Market Street elementary schools, Struthers, Springfield, Western Reserve’s, Lowellville’s, Champion’s, Liberty’s, Lordstown’s, Brookfield’s, Bloomfield-Mesopotamia, Howland Mines, Lakeview’s, Mathews’, McDonald’s; both of West Branch’s, all four of Poland’s and both of Canfield’s.
Overall, 95 percent of Youngstown’s third-graders were promoted to fourth grade, slightly more than the 94 percent average of Ohio’s third-graders.
“It’s pretty good for us to score the highest of all of the state’s urban schools,” said Stephen Stohla, interim Youngstown schools superintendent.
He said he’s always looking for improvement and for methods to boost the number of students who meet proficiency scores.
Students get additional opportunities over the summer to try to meet the promotion score, Stohla said.
Youngstown schools earned a C in kindergarten through third-grade literacy, missing a “B” by a slim margin.
About 55 percent of city school third-graders scored proficient on the state reading test.
The score for promotion is 394, but 400 is the proficient score. The state increased the promotion score from 392 in 2013-14 to 394 in 2014-15.
“The Third Grade Reading Guarantee is already achieving its main goal — getting extra help for students who need it,” Lonny J. Rivera, interim state superintendent of public instruction, said in a news release. “Ohio’s schools are stepping up to the plate by adding instructional time, partnering with local libraries and utilizing community volunteers to provide tutoring. This is the groundwork needed to ensure all students are ready for college and careers.”