Pattonville Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Tim Pecoraro presented the district’s curriculum, assessment, and instruction program evaluation at Tuesday's Board of Education meeting.

Pecoraro said Pattonville has won the Missouri “Distinction in Performance” award for the 11th year in a row.

Pattonville students in all grade levels achieved higher MAP scores in communication arts and math than the state average this year, with the exception of third grade communication arts.

The Pattonville High School end-of-course exams increased dramatically. In 3 out 4 areas, the high school students scored from 15 to 20 percentage points higher than the state.

Cause for concern

Math MAP scores have decreased among Pattonville third, fourth, and fifth graders this year.

Last year, 20 percent of fifth graders scored advanced on the math exam. This year, that number is down by nearly 4 percent.

Fifth grade communication arts MAP scores also dropped 4 percent. Third grade communication arts scores decreased as well.

Rose Acres Elementary School was the only school to deemed proficient on the Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) report.

Pecoraro said many schools are having trouble meeting the demands of No Child Left Behind. He said Rose Acres should be proud.

“That is quite an accomplishment based on the lofty goals of No Child Left Behind,” Pecoraro said.

Tracking trends

To help figure out where third through fifth-grade educators can improve their curricula, Pecoraro said the district is going to do something new this year to mark trends in grade data.

Teachers will transfer student exam grades to an online database that will help them and district administrators to see patterns in student learning.

Right now, trend information is stored in another online database called AIMS web three times a year.

Pecoraro said educators want something they can review more frequently that will give administrators a districtwide picture of how the curriculum is working.

“For the district level, it’s really helpful for us to do two things; monitor our student progress, how our kids are doing, but also to truly evaluate our program," Pecoraro said.

Board hosts candidate forum
Superintendent Mike Fulton announced Pattonville will hold an informational forum on Nov. 15 for those interested in running for a spot on the school board.

Board Vice President Jeanne Schottmueller and Treasurer Ralph Stahlhut’s terms will end after next April’s elections. Board President Robert Dillon said Schottmueller and Stahlhut both are running for re-election.

To run for a Pattonville School Board seat, residents must be at least 24 years old, a U.S. citizen, a resident taxpayer of the district and fulfill other requirements.

The forum will be held at 7 p.m. in the Pattonville Learning Center.

Board honors student achievements

Members honored several Pattonville students at the meeting:

• Joshua Johnson, Maryland Heights Volunteer of the Year
• Erik Schrader, certificate of accomplishment during the Outstanding Student Leadership Program
• Brittni Cambron, National Merit Scholarship 
• Marc Prather and Rachel McCormick, Advanced Placement Scholars