Ninety-nine students from the Niagara Falls School District will be honored today for receiving perfect scores on two standardized New York state exams.
Students in third- through eighth-grade representing all of the district’s elementary and preparatory schools will be honored at a ceremony at 6:30 p.m. at Niagara Street School.
“I think this is phenomenal that this many kids can achieve perfect scores,” said School Board President Russell Petrozzi. “Our schools have been recognized to be in good standing and these test scores show we are moving in the right direction.”
District Chief Information Officer Marcia Capone said it is extremely exciting for the district to be able to honor these students, as a perfect score shows the highest level of proficiency.
The perfect scores came on one of two statewide assessments — the English language arts or mathematics exams. Capone said that six students within the district received perfect scores on both exams, which is rare.
“We have done a lot in the district to help increase student achievement, which is my main goal,” Superintendent Cynthia Bianco said.
Bianco contributed some of the success being seen inside of the classroom to additional training that teachers are being put through outside of the classroom.
“We have incorporated extensive staff development across the district,” Bianco said. “It is important that training is job-embedded in the workplace and that is not only for teachers, but for our administrators as well.”
Capone said that it is very difficult to obtain a perfect score on a statewide standardized test because the second part of the exams use a rubric. For the ELA it is a written portion and for the math the student must show his or her work in order to obtain full credit.
Bianco said the district has come a long way, and is excited for the 99 students, but has her sights said on greater districtwide success.
“We want 100 percent achievement,” she said. “That may not be a realistic goal, but it is something we will try very hard to achieve.”
She said some of the progressive steps the district is taking is earlier classroom intervention, full day pre-kindergarten and standardized curriculum among others.
“Education is a great equalizer,” Bianco said. “Our job is to empower children.”
She said the perfect scores is what it’s all about and proves the hard work of students and staff is paying off. She noted the district has a ways to go, but she said that she’s dedicated to the task at hand and is excited to present today’s awards.
