The release of Basic Skills Test (BST) scores was good news for Kimball eighth-grade students. The eighth-graders boast an impressive 16 percentage-point increase over last year’s scores in reading. Their percentage passage rate for 2003 testing was 88 percent. In 2002 Kimball scored 72 percent. Eighty-one percent of students in the state passed the reading test this year. The state average passing score was 630. Kimball’s average score was 650. In addition to improved reading test scores, Kimball eighth-graders also improved in mathematics. The students earned a 72 percent passage rate on the basic skills test in math. This score reflects a five percentage-point increase over last year’s 67 percent passage rate. The 72 percent rate is right on track with the state average for students across Minnesota. The state average passing score was 630. Kimball’s average score was 631. The basic skills tests for reading, math and writing are high stakes tests. Students must pass them in order to be eligible to graduate from a Minnesota public high school. State law requires that all public school students be tested. Tests in reading and mathematics are given for the first time to students during their eighth grade year. Students who do not pass initially have the opportunity to retest at each subsequent grade and three times as seniors. The tests are not timed, but must be completed in a school day. Students are asked to answer multiple choice questions on the reading and math tests. The state has a minimum passing score of 600 or above. A student report is mailed home to parents with information that includes the number of test items correct and a comparison rating of high, medium or low for each of the following strands: Mathematics A. Problem Solving: Whole Numbers & Fractions. B. Problem Solving: Percents/ Ratio. C. Number Sense. D. Estimation. E. Measurement. F. Tables and Graphs. G. Chance and Data. H. Shape and Space. Reading A. Literal Comprehension. B. Inferential Comprehension.
