Four Diocesan Schools To Participate In
National Assessment Program
 

Four Diocesan Catholic schools have been selected for the 2011 National Assessment Educational Progress (NAEP), the only nationally representative and continuing assessment of what America’s students have learned in core subjects.

The four schools are All Saints Academy, Scranton; Our Lady of Peace School, Clarks Green; St. Mary Assumption School, Pittston; and St. Clare/St. Paul School, Scranton.

From January through March 2011, NAEP will be administered by NAEP field staff at these schools in mathematics and reading in grades 4 and 8, science in grade 8, and writing in grade 8.

Also known as “The Nation’s Report Card,” the NAEP has also been conducting assessments in U.S. history, civics, geography, the arts and economics since 1969.

Teachers, principals, parents, policymakers and researchers all use NAEP results to assess progress and develop ways to improve education in the United States.

NAEP has consistently shown that students in private schools score higher than students in public schools. Catholic schools in particular have achieved excellent participation in the assessment process. During recent assessments, Catholic school participation rates were more than 90 percent in both grades 4 and 8.

Mary Tigue, assistant superintendent of Diocesan Catholic schools, said: “The Office of Catholic Schools is delighted once again to have our schools participate in this national assessment. Schools in the Diocese of Scranton have a long history of providing quality Catholic education to our students and the selection of our schools’ participation bears this out.”

She added, “The fact that Catholic schools do so well in these assessment programs is an affirmation to our teachers and a plus for the innovative aspects of our curriculum.”