State results for the new math end-of-course (EOC) assessments were released yesterday by OSPI. Now, instead of all 10th grade students taking a comprehensive (i.e. across course) math assessment, middle and high schools students will take an EOC assessment at the end of Algebra I/Integrated I and Geometry/Integrated II regardless of what grade they are in. For example, if a student takes Algebra in eighth grade, s/he will take the Algebra I EOC in eighth grade. For students in the classes of 2013 and 2014 (those who were in 10th and ninth grade in 2010-11), they must pass either the Algebra I/Integrated I or Geometry/Integrated II EOC to graduate from high school. For students in the Class of 2015 and beyond (those who were in eighth grade or below in 2010-11), they must pass both EOC exams to graduate from high school.
So, what happened? The majority of students passed, and the passing rates for students in the lower grades are high, really high — especially in Geometry/Integrated II. AND, in most grades most students passed the EOCs with a Level 4 (the highest level).
A few things worth noting:
• Algebra I/Integrated I results include students who completed the course prior to the 2010-11 school year, and typically passed the EOC at higher rates than their peers who took Algebra I/Integrated I in 2010-11.
• Students passed EOCs at rates far above the previous comprehensive high school math assessment (formerly known as the WASL).
• All 10th grade students, and nearly all ninth grade students, took one of the EOCs. All ninth grade and below students who passed an EOC will be able to “bank” their scores, meaning they will not have to retake the exam once they enroll in high school and their test results will count for federal reporting requirements.
