Local schools perform well in ISTEP test

West Lafayette, Ind. (WLFI) - What do Burnett Creek Elementary School and Murdock Elementary School have in common?  Both schools scored the highest in the 2012 ISTEP test in their respective school corporations.

93 percent of Burnett Creek students met or exceeded the state average in both math and English, along with 94 percent of Murdock Elementary students.

Lafayette School Corporation Assistant Superintendent John Layton said he's extremely thrilled with the results.

"Just Incredible," said Layton. "An incredible performance. We're very, very proud of the students, and the parental support there is very strong."

Hershey Elementary and Amelia Earhart elementary came next, with scores of 92 percent and 84 percent respectively.

Tippecanoe School Corporation Superintendent Scott Hanback said he was also happy with students' performance.

However, he said the overall percentages aren't really what the school corporation likes to focus on. He said instead, they like to focus on individual development and growth.

"All 12, 108 of our students are very important to us and we want to tailor an education that fits their needs," said Hanback. "We meet them at their level and we move them ahead, and that's ultimately our goal."
    
Hanback said the goal is to also work on the areas that seem to be reoccurring problems. Within the TSC, he said it's math.

Klondike Elementary School and Lafayette Tecumseh Jr. High scored the lowest in total ISTEP testing with 64 and 56 percent passing or exceeding state standards in both math and English.

In Math alone, 73 percent of Klondike students met or exceeded, along with 74 percent of Tecumseh students. Both are below the state average of 81 percent. Layton said he realizes some areas need work.

"Obviously, we know that we have areas we need to improve in, and the eighth grade language art scores at Tecumseh is something we don't want to accept," said Layton. "We want to improve that."

Yet Layton said he's not worried. With the great staff and students in the LSC, he says the only way to go is up.

"We know that we have an unbelievably strong teaching staff, we've known that forever," said Layton. "Now, we're really laser focused on the particular short comings of individualized students. So, as long as we continue to hammer away using the processes that we've found, we think we will continue to grow."

All schools in the West Lafayette School Corporation tested in the 90th percentile in both Math and English.