Smarter approach to statewide tests; MHS meets goal of 95% completion

By MELISSA VALLE 
The Tower

Manteca High’s Smarter Balanced test scores for the 2022-23 academic year were among the worst in the Manteca Unified School District. 

Thirty percent of students passed the English portion of the test, while only 15 percent passed the math portion. These scores have perplexed many on campus, including administration, because the scores don’t reflect the aptitude witnessed in the classrooms.

This year, the faculty decided to change its approach to the statewide testing with the hopes of increasing the students’ interest and ultimately, their scores.

To start, interim principal Megan Peterson said the administration and staff needed to change the narrative around the testing. It’s more than a district-required assessment, she and her staff told students, and it serves many purposes, including measuring how well schools are preparing their students; how much the students are learning; as well as identifying any learning gaps. 

Along with the narrative about testing, Peterson and her team implemented physical changes, beginning with the way students are tested, and they created incentives.

The early returns are promising.

Manteca High met its goal of 95 percent completion. Roving assistant principal Martha Dent, a driving force with the testing, believes the changes will yield stronger scores when they’re released in the fall.

“I think the way kids were tested might’ve affected that,” Peterson said. “They were moved in big groups to the library in a sort of what I call ‘churn and burn out,’ so that’s why we’re changing it up a little bit. Teachers are going to monitor whether kids are trying on the tests.

“I think part of it too is coming out of COVID. I think there’s some learning gaps for kids. You don’t learn as well sitting in your room at the computer as you would in a classroom with teachers and your peers.” 

This year, faculty is confident students are going to exceed the expectations for testing. As incentive, the school offered students rewards for testing, a sign that their hard was appreciated.

“If our scores raise, we’re going to be doing some schoolwide incentives. All the juniors can get out early for lunch. We’re going to go back to see how you scored in eighth grade and if you had a big jump to now, we’re going to be doing some drawing for free yearbooks, extra graduation tickets, things like that,” Peterson said. “We’re going to do rewards for the kids that’ll really improve their scores.” 

Now that testing is over, Dent expressed how proud she is of the students and staff.

“I am so proud of the Manteca High community and your response to testing,” said Martha Dent, a vice principal on assignment. “Juniors showed up and tried hard on the tests. We had no knuckleheads.  

“Teachers worked hard to learn how to administer the tests and to cover each other on testing days. Classes were moved all over campus so learning could continue. Our techs, our custodians, and our clerical staff were all terrific, monitors were super helpful, and admin were out and about each day in support of making the MHS test scores truly be reflective of the excellence here in the world of the Buffalo. I can't wait till next fall to see how those scores improve.”