The results are in. Last November, St. Lucas students took the Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Examination. This test is the Department of Public Instruction's standardized test for public school students across the state. Because St. Lucas is a participant in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program, our school is required by law to administer the test to all MPCP students. St. Lucas has used the test last two years for all students in grades 3-8.
Tables represents percentage of students rated proficient or advanced on the WKCE (Nov. 2010 test date)
| Reading | State |
St. Lucas |
MPS |
| Grade 4 | 82 | 89 | 60 |
| Grade 8 | 86 | 83 | 62 |
| Math | |||
| Grade 4 | 79 | 84 | 52 |
| Grade 8 | 78 | 78 | 44 |
It is the philosophy of St. Lucas that this kind of standardized test is best used by curriculum planners and board members for long term curriculum planning. Standardized tests are a snapshot of student performance. One snapshot does not make a photo album. However, the snapshot can serve as a reality check for instructors, parents, and school leaders.
There are other testing systems which assess individual students performance over time in greater detail with more immediate response. The Measures of Academic Progress testing systems are such a measure. More to come on that assessment tool.
