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From the Principal:

Mrs. Vafadari

Dear Parents,

Enclosed you will find a copy of your child’s “Profile Narrative” for the IOWA test.   These tests were given in October to students in grades 2-8.  The format of the test parallels our instructional materials, and there is a high degree of emphasis on thinking skills and using information in context to solve problems. You are also receiving a “Group Longitudinal Display” for your child’s class and a copy of how IHM did as a whole compared to the rest of the Grand Rapids Diocese. 

 When looking at the “Group Longitudinal Display” chart for your child’s grade, there are a few items to note.

• The dark line or dot represents the achievement growth for IHM students and the light line or dot represents the achievement growth for an average student.
• This display represents the grade level that your child’s class is performing at. For example: if your 3^rd graders class is performing at a 5.1 level, they are performing at a Grade 5 level 1.
• If you have an 8^th grader and their class is performing at a 13+ grade level, this represents the highest level of performance.  The 8^th grade class as a whole did not score anything less than 12.0! 
• The most important factor in this display is the growth of a child from 2^nd through 8^th grade.  When the Diocese is looking at test scores, they want to see the scores of 8^th graders and how much they have grown in their knowledge base. Our 8^th graders are at the top of the diocese.  

 Overall, our students were substantially above the national percentile norms and also above average when compared to local (diocesan) percentile.  Please keep in mind, however, that test scores on a standardized achievement test are an objective estimate of a student’s achievement in certain skills. The teacher’s opinion of the student’s academic strengths and needs is based on many kinds of information, not just standardized test scores.  For instance, the teacher also considers classroom tests, homework and classroom exercises, and observation of the student’s work and study habits. 

Some measurement error is associated with any test score.  A statistical procedure takes this into account by calculating the range that is likely to include the student’s score.  Therefore, scores should not be regarded as an absolute, but rather as approximations of the student’s level of achievement.  Also keep in mind that many factors on a particular test day can affect the assessment.

The printout of your child’s results is easy to interpret.  The “National Percentile, which is the Composite Score”, is the most straightforward score for understanding your child’s achievement.  For example, an “NPR” of 85% means that your child scored in the top 15% of the children in the nation who took the IOWA test. Also, remember that a 50% means that your child scored in the average range and this is an acceptable range for your child to be in. 

Please remember:

• Standardized achievement test scores are never factored into grades or report cards.
• This test covers curriculum that the student has not yet covered in their class.  Low scores in those areas would not be a sign of poor academic achievement.
• Always accentuate the positive with your child.  If you go over the test results with your child, point out the “good news.”  Please don’t overestimate the importance of this assessment.  It is essential that we take the results seriously, but only as one piece of the entire “progress puzzle.”
• Standardized test scores ought never to minimize the importance and value of being a human person.

::Please click here for IOWA Test Score Results::

God bless,

God’s blessings,

Kathleen Vafadari

Principal