Academic Scores Eclipse Expectations with Phenomenal Results

by Robert "Bob" Lewandowski

This is the dawning of a new age. On the first day for the Colstrip Instructional Staff, we reviewed data, both good and bad, to seek out the best possible solutions for maximizing student learning in the 2017-2018 school year. We asked ourselves some tough questions concerning the challenges that we face.

The staff also got to take in the solar eclipse; and ironic as it may seem, we were definitely enlightened by the scores and student outcomes.

Our NWEA Measures of Academic Progress results were phenomenal. The overall growth of students in Reading, Mathematic and Language Use provides the much needed proof in the pudding that our school district is making huge strides in providing the necessary cores of learning.

Here are a few of the highlights:

NWEA MAP READING (2016-2017)

• Pine Butte Elementary (PBES) 3rd Grade scores in the 99th percentile in Reading Growth (better than 98% of the 3rd Grades in the nation)
• PBES Increases the Student Growth Count in Reading by 3.04%
• Frank Brattin Middle School (FBMS) 7th Grade scores in the 86th percentile in Reading Growth (better than 85% of the 7th Grades in the nation)
• FBMS Increases the Student Growth Count in Reading by 10.58%
• Colstrip HIgh School (CHS) 10th Grades scores in the 80th percentile in Reading Growth (better than 79% of the 10th Grades in the nation)
• Colstrip Public Schools (all schools in district) Increases the Student Growth Count in Reading by 5.72%

NWEA MAP MATHEMATICS (2016-2017)

• Pine Butte Elementary (PBES) Kindergarten scores in the 96th percentile in Mathematic Growth (better than 95% of the Kindergarten grades in the nation)
• PBES 1st Grade scores in the 90th percentile in Mathematic Growth (better than 89% of the 1st Grades in the nation)
• PBES 2nd Grade scores in the 80th percentile in Mathematic Growth (better than 79% of the 2nd Grades in the nation)
• PBES Increased Student the Growth Count in Mathematics by 20.9%
• Frank Brattin Middle School (FBMS) 7th Grade scores in the 86th percentile in Mathematics (better than 85% of the 7th Grades in the nation).
• FBMS Increase the Student Growth Count in Mathematics by 17.43%
• Colstrip Public Schools (all schools in district) Increases the Student Growth Count in Mathematics by 12.56%

NWEA MAP LANGUAGE USE (2016-2017)

• Pine Butte Elementary School (PBES) Increases the Student Growth Count in Language Use by 14.06%
• Frank Brattin Middle School (FBMS) 6th Grade scores in the 81st percentile in Language Use (better than 80% of the 6th Grade scores in the nation)
• FBMS Increases the Student Growth Count in Language Use by 3.21% 

This data is definitely something to be proud of and I would like to encourage you to thank our staff and congratulate our students.  Even though this marks a beginning of great things to come, our academic progress is definitely MAKING DUST!

GO COLTS! GO FILLIES! 

MAKE DUST OR EAT DUST!

"Get out in front and stay there!"