Core Knowledge^® Research

Three Oaks Elementary

Ft. Myers, FL

Results:

A doctoral dissertation study reported the results of a statistical analysis of test scores performance of Three Oaks in comparison with a matched control school in the district on Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills (CTBS). The first graph (Figure 1) shows that Three Oaks gained in science achievement, and surpassed the control school. The second graph (Figure 2) compares two things: both the rise in test scores and the decrease in standard deviation. The scores represent the progress of the same two groups of Three Oaks students from 1990 to 1993 measured by the Total Battery score of the CTBS. From 1990 to 1993, Three Oaks' mean "total battery" CTBS scores improved 117 points (from 611 to 728), while the standard deviation — a measure of the spread of scores, from the lowest to highest — narrowed by 32 points. When a school both improves its average scores and narrows it standard deviation, it is a sign of increasing fairness, indicating that low achievers have been lifted toward the mean.

Figure 1

Figure 2

"It's important to realize that improvement in test scores is not necessarily dramatic, but with Core Knowledge we have seen a steady rise over the years. Our state writing assessment scores have gone up steadily, too, and those are dramatic. We combined Core Knowledge with writing so the kids found, even on the state tests, that they had the background knowledge that enabled them to perform well. The beauty of Core Knowledge is how well it allows you to combine skills and content."

Vivian Posey, Principal

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Last updated: Fri, May 23 2008