The Arizona Department of Education recently released the results of the AIMS testing from last April and Elgin Elementary School once again scored a high B.
AIMS stands for Arizona Instrument for Measurement of Students and is used to measure their proficiency in reading and math. Grades 4 and 8 also test in science, but their scores do not influence the AIMS letter grade score. Fifth graders are also tested in writing.
State test scores revealed that more schools this year earned letter grades of A, and fewer schools fell into the B, C and D ranges. Numerically, about 20 percent of the schools improved a letter grade, 63 percent maintained their letter grade and 17 percent earned lower grades. Elgin School kids scored far above average in reading but fell below average in math. Local teachers stress reading in all classes, utilizing both printed books and electronic media.
To bring up the school’s grades in math, they have hired a new teacher, Manuel Gatica. He is helping the other teachers enhance their math curriculum so the children can improve their math aptitude. In the past, elementary school teachers did not stress mathematics, which received more emphasis beginning at the junior high level. At Elgin School all students will now study math starting in grade 6 and continuing through the eighth grade.
Mr. Gatica is challenging the students with many new experiences and techniques to help them understand math concepts. He points out that “Math skills are important in developing critical thinking.”
New goals mean new opportunities as expectations continually rise with the Arizona College and Career Readiness Standards. Superintendent Bonn says he plans to expose his teachers to all possible technologies to challenge the students to achieve. “Next year we will get an A. We have a game plan,” Bonn proclaims.