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DEMOGRAPHICS AND ACHIEVEMENT IN LARGE-CITY SCHOOLS AND TUDA DISTRICTS CONT’D Pieces of the Puzzle
Moreover, the percentage of large-city fourth graders reading at or above basic levels of attainment increased from 47 percent in 2003 to 54 percent in 2009, and those scoring at or above proficient levels increased from 19 percent to 23 percent. The percentage of large-city eighth graders scoring at or above basic levels in reading increased from 58 percent in 2003 to 63 percent in 2009, while those scoring at or above proficient levels increased from 19 percent in 2003 to 21 percent in 2009.10 (See appendix B, table B.8.) The percentage of fourth graders nationwide reading at or above basic levels of attainment increased from 62 percent in 2003 to 66 percent in 2009, and those scoring at or above proficient levels increased from 30 percent to 32 percent. The percentage of eighth-graders scoring at or above basic levels increased from 72 percent in 2003 to 74 percent in 2009, while those scoring at or above proficient levels remained the same at 30 percent. (See appendix B, table B.8.) In addition, the reported NAEP reading scale scores on individual TUDA cities showed significant gains in many cities. Significant reading gains among fourth graders between 2003 and 2009 were seen in Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, the District of Columbia (DC), Los Angeles, and New York City (NYC). (See figure 2.1.) Significant reading gains among eighth graders between 2003 and 2009 were seen in Atlanta, Boston, Houston, and Los Angeles. (See figure 2.2.) Figure 2.1 NAEP 4th-grade reading scale score increases in TUDA cities between 2003 and 2009, compared with large-city and national samples
† Austin did not participate in TUDA in 2003, so figure shows change from 2005 to 2009. Note: Beginning in 2009, the results for charter schools were not included in a district’s TUDA results if they were not included in a district’s Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP data. The results affect only DC. * Significant difference (p<.05) between 2003 and 2009. Source: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2009. 10
Source: Reading 2009, Trial Urban District Assessment, Results at Grades 4 and 8. National Center for Educational Statistics, Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education (NCES 2010-459), 2010.
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PIECES OF THE PUZZLE: FACTORS IN THE IMPROVEMENT OF URBAN SCHOOL DISTRICTS ON THE NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS