State test scores are here. See how your school district is doing

Fresno County students are doing better academically this year, but still are falling behind most of the state, according to test scores released Wednesday by the California Department of Education.

Statewide, 48 percent of students met or exceeded English/language arts standards, and 37 percent met or exceeded math standards. That’s about the same as last year.

In Fresno County, 44 percent of students met or exceeded English/language arts standards, and 32 percent met or exceeded math standards. Last year, 42 percent of the county’s students met English goals, and 30 percent met math goals.

That’s better than surrounding counties, though.

In Madera County, 35 percent of students are meeting English/language arts goals, and 23 percent are meeting math goals. In Tulare County, 37 percent of students met English/language arts standards, and 25 percent met math standards. Forty-two percent of Kings County students met English/language arts goals, and 29 percent met math standards.

The full results of the tests can be viewed by school, district or county here.

The Valley still has problems with the achievement gap between white students and students of color, as do many schools across the state and nation.

At Fresno Unified, more than 50 percent of white students met or exceeded goals in English, while 20 percent of black students met those standards. Thirty percent of the district’s Latino students met English standards.

Clovis Unified also has a stark achievement gap: More than 60 percent of white students met math goals, compared to 38 percent of blacks students and 45 percent of Latino students.

This is the third year the Common Core-aligned Smarter Balanced tests have been part of California’s statewide student assessment system. The tests – taken on a computer – are considered more rigorous and analytical than past exams, and aim to better prepare students for college.

“I’m pleased we retained our gains, but we have much more work to do. We need to work diligently to narrow achievement gaps and make sure all students continue to make progress,” State Superintendent of Schools Tom Torlakson said in a news release.

“It’s important to remember that these tests are far more rigorous and realistic than the previous paper and pencil tests. We are asking more of our students, but for a good reason – so they are better prepared for the world of college and careers.”

This story was originally published September 27, 2017 at 8:55 AM with the headline "State test scores are here. See how your school district is doing."