Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-08-24
District Pupils
Found Below
u. 5. Average
2-to-3-Yeur Log
Disclosed in Tests
Of Ninth Graders

|ITOIu Ouc W LWO yCd- SSAAAAA~ 49,
reading.
In social studies. science and
English expression the city'S
ninth-graders also are behind
national averages.
These lags are disclosed in a
report on city-wide tests given
by the school system to all 9-B
students last March. The report,
distributed in June to principals
and officials by the schools re-
search department, has not OH
cially been made public.
Tests in other grades during
the past year showed up similar
llags, particularly in former
NEGRO schools, officials also dis
closed.
Below Norms
In fifth grade, pupils through
out the city averaged below ma
tional norms and formerly
colored schools averaged gen.
orally below those formerly
white. Half Of the schools were a
year behind national averages in
spelling, language, arithmetic
and comprehension of paragraph
and word meanings. The city
average was 3-B in reading COM
lprehension.
In high schools, 18th graders
averaged slightly above the ma
tional norm in science, equalled
it in English expression and fell
slightly below on social studies.
All regular formerly white high
schools ranked above those
formerly colored, as well as above
the city's vocational schools.
Tests in third and sixth grades
were generally similar, officials
said.
Junior high lags, however.
showed up as the most marked.
The test report makes no dis
ltinction between the city's for
merly white and Negro schools.
However, the report in Utmost
every case shows schools OF the
former colored division ranking
below those of the former white
division. The exception is Ban
neker Junior High School,
formerly in the Negro division.
which outranked three of the
formerly white schools in the
English test.
| Here are highlights from the
detailed junior high test results:
Reading-In 10 schools ad-
ministering one set Of reading
tests, ninth-graders averaged one
year and two months behind the
national norm. In Is schools
using a second set OF tests,
ninth-graders averaged one year
and seven months behind. Jndi-
vidual school averages IL both
sets of tests ranged from grade
6 to grade 10.
The national average is 9-B.
but the city average in one test
was 7-B and in the other was ga.
Five schools eQualed or topped
the national norm - Capitol
Page, Deal, Gordon, Paul and
mcfarland.
Arithmetic-In the 10-school
group ninth-graders averaged
almost three years behind
the national norm. In the 49,
school group, ninth-graders aver
aged a little under 21a years be-
hind. School scores ranged from
a low of 5-B achievement to a
high of 9-B-where the average
should be. Deal was the only
school equalling the national
norm of 9-B. The average was
6-B for the 10-school group and
IA for the 13-School group.
Understanding Of Basic Social
ConceptS-This test, in the field
of social studies, included ques-
lions about citizenship and tho
institutions of this country such
as courts and taxes, and their
historical background.
Ninth-graders as a whole
averaged below the national
norm. The norm was exceeded
at four schools and equalled at
four others. All these schools
were formerly in the white divi-
sion. The highest ranking former
colored school, Banneker.
equalled the city average but
fell short of the national norm.
Highest score in the city was at
the Page School, next highest at
Deal.
General Background in the
Natural Science - Ninth-grad-
ers at nine schools averaged
ahead of the national norm and
those at one other school
equalled it. Three schools
Page, Deal and Gordon-scored
in the top S per cent in the
Nation. The city average was
below the national norm, how
ever.
Correctness and Appropriate
ness of English Expression
Seven schools scored higher than
the national norm and four
others equalled it, including the
highest ranking school of the
former colored division, Ban
neker. The city average was
closer to the national norm in
this test, but still slightly be-
low it.
Four schools-Page, Deal, Cor
don and Paul-scored in the top
S per cent in the Nation.
Follows Past Pattern
School officials said the March
test results are generally in line
with test results of the past few
years, which also have shown
Ilags behind national averages.
Past tests also have indicated
a lower achievement average
among the city's Negro pupils
than among white.
School Supt. Hobart M. Corn
ing said today that he feels
there is nothing to be alarmed