Westfield High School’s results on the ISTEP+/Core 40 End of Course Assessment have continually increased during the past three years in algebra, English 10 and biology.“We are extremely proud of the continued success our students are experiencing,” WHS Principal Stacy McGuire said. “These ECA results are a direct reflection of our students’ hard work, teachers’ dedication and parent support.”
The greatest gains came in biology as scores increased 22.8 percent from 59 percent in 2010 to 81.8 percent in 2012. WHS is fourth out of 296 high schools statewide.
English 10 scores improved 16.6 percent from 76.9 percent in 2010 to 93.5 percent in 2012. This places WHS fifth statewide. Algebra I scores increased from 84.9 percent to 93.4 percent (an 8.5-percent improvement), placing WHS 14th in the state.
The English 10 and Algebra ECA results are part of the district’s 2011-2016 Strategic Plan, which states by 2016, 97 percent of WHS graduates will have passed the exams.
As part of the No Child Left Behind Law and Indiana’s school accountability system, ISTEP+/Core 40 ECAs are designed to ensure the quality, consistency, and rigor of Core 40 courses across the state.
Aligned with Indiana’s Academic Standards, ECAs are final exams measuring what students know and are able to do upon completion of targeted Core 40 courses. In addition, the ECAs are an integral component of Indiana’s plan for improving student achievement. The results provide teachers with information about content and skills for future instruction and the state must report participation and achievement rates as part of the federal and state assessment plans.