Last May, students in Logan County Schools took the new WESTEST 2, a custom-designed assessment for West Virginia students. The individual content assessments measure a student’s level of performance on clearly defined standards, objectives and skills.

Student scores are based on test questions that have been developed and aligned to the West Virginia 21st Century CSO’s. The assessment results provide information about a student’s academic strengths, as well as areas that need improvement.

The parent/guardian has received a student report that indicates levels of performance in each of the content areas. Results of the tests will be used by educators to improve student learning and performance. Students in grades 3-11 were assessed. Results from the WESTEST 2 determine Adequate Yearly progress (AYP) as defined by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.

For the 2008-09 school year, Logan County had 17 schools that were accountable under the No Child Left Behind Act. Out of the 17 schools, 14 (82 percent) met AYP.

• All Elementary Schools made AYP.

• Schools not meeting AYP were Man Middle, Logan Middle, and Chapmanville Middle.

• 63 percent of all elementary students met proficiency in Math and 65 percent met proficiency in Reading/Language Arts.

• 49 percent of middle school students met proficiency in Math and 56 percent met proficiency in Reading/Language Arts.

• 53 percent of 11th grade students met proficiency in Math and 56 percent met proficiency in Reading/Language arts.

• The three high schools that were accountable for AYP met or exceeded the graduation standard of 80 percent graduation rate (county was 85.3 percent)

• 100 percent of Logan County's elementary and middle schools met or exceeded the attendance standard of 90 percent (county was 95.6 percent)

• 100 percent of Logan County's schools exceeded the standard participation rate of 95 percent in all subgroups.

Results indicate that Logan County did not make AYP because of the special education subgroup in Math and Reading/Language Arts in the elementary, middle and high schools, and in the low SES subgroup in Math and Reading/Language arts in the middle schools. It is very difficult for middle schools to meet AYP because they usually have more special education students than elementary schools. If one of a school’s subgroups doesn’t reach the math and reading benchmarks, the entire school will not meet its goals.

Test scores were lower this year due to a new, harder statewide assessment that resulted in a drop in the number of students to have mastered what they are supposed to learn in school. The WESTEST 2 evaluates student’s critical thinking and problem solving skills to help prepare students for a global workforce.