Results of the Oregon Statewide Assessment Systems’ spring 2024 tests released Thursday, Oct. 3 show West Linn and Wilsonville students’ scores remain among the highest in the state, despite a decrease since the 2018-19 school year.
Students who participate in OSAS summative tests receive a score between 1-4. Students who score level 1 are below grade level, level 2 are at grade level and scores of 3 or higher represent proficiency in the subject area. The tests cover math, English and science.
West Linn-Wilsonville School District ranked ninth for math proficiency across the state, among all grade levels, and 12th for English language assessment proficiency.
A little more than half, or 50.1%, of all assessed students tested at proficiency in math, with 59.5% proficient in English assessments and 42% in science.
Statewide, math scores were the best and six of the seven grades tested showed improvements from spring 2023 to 2024. For West Linn-Wilsonville students, this increase was by 3.5 percentage points and the district’s fifth graders saw the greatest improvement in their math scores, with almost a 7 percentage point leap forward.
“The district recently adopted a new literacy curriculum and is in the process of a math curriculum renewal. These processes are examples of how teaching staff are always thinking about instructional strategies, participating in professional development, and working in collaboration to increase learning outcomes for students,” said assistant superintendent Barb Soisson by email. “OSAS assessment data is helpful in identifying broad trends in student learning. The district is encouraged by student learning improvements in both language arts and mathematics. While there is always room for further growth, the hard work of students and teaching staff is evident, especially in mathematics.”
Willamette and Cedaroak Park primary schools saw the greatest improvement in their math scores since 2022-23, with increases in the double digits.
Improvements in English assessments, which cover reading and writing comprehension, were comparatively minimal.
Districtwide, English scores dropped by 1.8 percentage points; however, scores increased at Willamette, Bolton, Boeckman Creek and Stafford primary schools, as well as Wood Middle School.
West Linn-Wilsonville students remain behind pre-pandemic assessment levels, although they score much higher than the Oregon average.
“OSAS assessment data shows modest overall improvements in most grade levels for English Language Arts and Mathematics. Teaching staff have focused on meeting students where they’re at while collaborating across grade levels to maximize student outcomes. By working as teams, we are seeing consistent improvements in student learning across schools and grades,” said Soisson. “By varying assessment strategies, teaching staff can get a more clear picture of student proficiency, where there’s room for growth, and if instructional strategies are creating the intended outcomes for students. This is why the district and schools look at OSAS data along with NWEA MAP (Northwest Evaluation Association Measures of Academic Progress) K-8, classroom assessments and grades that are based on standards. Looking at multiple assessments provides a more complete picture for planning instruction that leads to growth.”
The statewide picture: ‘This isn’t normal’
Statewide, the assessment scores remain significantly lower than pre-pandemic levels, with only 31% of Oregon students testing at proficiency in math, 43% in English and 29% in science.
“Every child deserves a high-quality, culturally responsive public education to be set up for success. I’m not satisfied with this year’s numbers,” Gov. Tina Kotek said in a press release. “We must double down on our commitment and collaboration to fix the gaps in our system that are failing students. I am focused on working with education partners across the whole system to identify evidence-based solutions, increase high-quality learning opportunities, and strengthen student wellbeing.”
The Oregon Department of Education also provided information regarding the share of students at each grade level who scored at “Level 1,” or below grade level. For eighth graders, 43% are performing below grade level in science, 51% in math and 34% in English. For third graders, the youngest student group assessed, 37% of students are below grade level for both English and math.
“This is not where we want this. This isn't normal. This is not where we want to be by any stretch of the imagination, and we are setting goals with districts,” said ODE Director Charlene Williams. “Between the next three to five years, they are setting learning and growth performance targets based on their data.”
ODE highlighted four key areas to help “accelerate learning” and improve ELA proficiency: continued and increased investment in literacy, summer and afterschool learning, data-informed policy and practices, and accountability.
The release of OSAS scores precedes district “report cards” and AP scores released later in the fall.
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