Eastbayri.com

BARRINGTON — Last year’s crop of eighth grade students in Barrington outscored their peers on the annual NECAP science test, helping Barrington Middle School to the distinction of top-ranked middle school in the state.

Nearly 69 percent of all Barrington Middle School eighth-graders scored at or above the proficient mark on the annual science test. Students from Davisville Middle School in North Kingstown held the next-highest proficiency rating at 63.4 percent, while middle school students at Jamestown School-Lawn were 63.0 percent proficient.

Results were mixed across the district.

While students at all three levels that were tested — fourth, eighth and 11th grade — scored well above the state average, only students at the middle school and high school showed improvement over last year’s results.

In 2010, 73.8 of fourth-graders at Hampden Meadows School scored at or above the proficient level on the science test, but that mark fell to 64.7 proficient this year. Hampden Meadows School had the greatest number of students tested (266) among all Rhode Island elementary schools.

At Barrington High School, 57 percent of the students tested scored at the proficient mark, a 6.8 percent improvement over the previous year’s scores. Barrington was the second-best in the state behind East Greenwich High School, who held a 60 percent proficiency rating.

Statewide, nearly one in every three students achieved proficiency on the NECAP science test.

“I congratulate our Rhode Island teachers and our students for the improvements on the state science assessments,” said Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee. “As we continue to move forward with our plan for transforming education in Rhode Island, we hope to see improvements every year — in English, mathematics, and science as well. I am confident that our students can compete with the best in New England and the best in the country.”

George D. Caruolo, Chairman of the Board of Regents for Elementary and Secondary Education, shared a somewhat different opinion: “Though I am pleased by the gradual improvement in science scores, I am concerned that only one-third of our student population has achieved proficiency in science.

“We are moving in the right direction, but we have a long road ahead as we strive to advance achievement for all students.”

Rhode Island Department of Education Commissioner Deborah Gist held a press conference on Tuesday at Mt. Hope High School in Bristol to announce the NECAP science test results.

“I want to congratulate the many schools and districts that are leading the way and that made significant progress this year on the NECAP science assessments. Today’s results clearly show that students from all schools and all backgrounds can meet challenging standards,” she said.