ANDERSON High school students in Anderson, Oconee and Pickens counties know their biology but need to brush up on the Bill of Rights.

Scores released to the public by the state Department of Education Tuesday indicate As in biology and Fs in the U.S. History and Constitution portions of the End-of-Course-Examination Program.

The test measures how well high school and some middle school students grasp core subjects including English, biology, algebra and history. The scores reflect testing from the 2011-12 school year.

Generally, students in certain grades take certain subject tests, said Jay Ragley, spokesman for the South Carolina Department of Education.

Ninth-graders and some gifted and talented eighth-graders take the English and algebra sections. Ninth- and tenth-graders take biology, and 11th-graders take the U.S. History and Constitution section. End-of-course subject exams account for 20 percent of each students final grade, and all students enrolled in a given subject must take the test.

School districts received letter grades based on percentages of those who passed and failed.

Students in Anderson, Oconee and Pickens counties made the most As in Biology 1 and 2 and made the most Fs in U.S. History and Constitution. None of the districts overall history scores were failing. Their mean scores ranged from 67 to 75. Anderson School District 3 had the most students receive Fs in the history test with 62 percent scoring poorly. Anderson School District 5 had the lowest number of students receiving Fs at 36 percent.

Biology proved a strong point with at least 25 percent of all test takers in Anderson, Oconee and Pickens school districts making an A. That subject showed the most improvement statewide in pass rate and average score, which grew by 8 percent and 3 percent.

State Superintendent Mick Zais said the testing benefits teachers and students.

Measuring student achievement is an important tool to improving instructional practices, he said. End-of-course assessments demonstrate how well high school students have mastered key concepts and skills they will use after graduation.

Originally posted here:
Upstate students ace biology but earn F in history section of state test