School scores 100% passing on Ind. math assessment
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COLUMBUS — The International School of Columbus had 100 percent of its eighth-grade students who took the ISTEP End-of-Course Assessment tests pass the math portion of the exam.
Statewide ECA results have not yet been released this year, but the average math score for Hoosier eighth-grade classes for the 2010-11 school year saw 91 percent pass, according to the Indiana Dept. of Education’s website. The average score for all grades statewide was 72.4 percent passing, according to the site.
The achievement is a first for the International School and speaks well to all students’ abilities, said Head of School Jonah Sims.
But the accomplishment is especially meaningful for eighth-grader Jade Gilpin, who has a significant learning disability and always has struggled with math, Sims said.
After a year of intensive study and practice — including bi-weekly, after-school tutoring with teacher Barbara Ream — Jade passed the math assessment, which is required to earn a general high school diploma in Indiana.
Jade, 15, said she was incredibly proud of her score.
“I was excited,” she said. “I knew I needed to pass.”
She said math went from being her least-favorite subject at the beginning of the school year to her favorite subject now.
“I never expected that,” Jade said.
Carrie Gilpin, Jade’s mother, said she has noticed a huge improvement in her daughter’s grades and self-esteem since transferring last year from a public school to the International School.
Carrie Gilpin said educators at Jade’s previous school had told Jade’s family she could only aspire to earn a special education diploma.
But now, with Jade’s success on the math ECA, Carrie Gilpin said she is confident Jade will earn a Core 40 diploma.
“We all are planning on having a big celebration party for her just because we’re just so proud of this milestone,” Carrie Gilpin said.
Ream, Jade’s math teacher, said Jade’s positive attitude and perseverance make her an inspiring example for all students.
“She has proven everyone wrong,” Ream said. “... She’s a courageous girl.”
Sims said a lot of credit for students’ excellent math scores goes to Ream’s creative teaching methods and lesson plans, which she pulls from multiple textbooks.
ISC students also scored 88 percent passing in English and 72 percent passing in biology on their ECA tests, Sims said. One biology student even earned a perfect score on his biology portion, he said.
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