Public school test scores go online

Two new exams were administered to state students this year

Scores from the latest round of standardized tests at each Hawaii public school are now available on the Department of Education's Web site, arrayed by grade level and subject matter.

More than 92,000 students in grades 3 through 8, as well as grade 10, took the 2007 Hawaii State Assessment in reading and math last spring. The state used new tests this year developed by the American Institutes for Research that were better matched to specific grade levels. Performance improved substantially.

The Hawaii State Assessment measures how well students have mastered the content standards for their grade, indicating whether they "exceed," "meet," "approach" or fall "well below" proficiency in reading and math.

It also includes a test known as TerraNova, similar to the SAT, that allows comparison with students across the country. Hawaii's scores were close to the national average, although reading tended to fall short. The national norm is for 23 percent of students to score "below average," 54 percent "average," and 23 percent "above average."

Results are available at the Department of Education's Web site doe.k12.hi.us under the heading "School by School Results for 2007 Hawaii State Assessment." This is a direct link to the documents, or you may go to tinyurl.com/yphc2t.