North Valley seniors meet state’s aim for AIMS
Test scores not a barrier for DVUSD, CCUSD students
by Ambria Hammel

NORTH VALLEY – Ten years after Arizona legislators passed a law directing the State Board of Education to develop competency tests as a high school graduation requirement, administrators at both the Deer Valley and Cave Creek unified school districts learned the state’s aim for the AIMS (Arizona Instrument to Measure Standards) test was right on target. Every senior who earned enough credits to graduate from both Sandra Day O’Connor High School (DVUSD) and Cactus Shadows High School (CCUSD) passed all three sections of the AIMS test and received their diploma last week.

The graduating class of 2006 was the first required to pass all three sections of AIMS, which measures proficiency in math and reading through a multiple‑choice format and measures writing ability based on written response to a given prompt. Statewide, Arizona schools chief Tom Horne reported 94 percent passed, but augmentation, passage of an exit exam in another state and exemptions for special education students could push that number up to 98 percent.

Although specific scores are embargoed until some time in June, administrators at both DVUSD and CCUSD released numbers indicating the majority of seniors passed without requiring the assistance of class grades to boost their scores. A state law passed in 2005 permitted students graduating in 2006 and 2007 to augment their AIMS scores by applying grades in core high school classes. Seventeen of the 542 seniors at O’Connor and one of 314 at Cactus Shadows passed AIMS in this fashion.

“There was certainly a heightened motivation to do well,” said O’Connor Principal Jack Dillard, as students couldn’t graduate until they passed.

Vicki Edwards, director of assessment and student achievement for DVUSD, said 100 percent of seniors eligible for graduation passed AIMS. She identified 21 seniors as ineligible to graduate due to a lack of credits, but would not specify their high school. Some of those students will attend summer school. Others will become a fifth‑year senior or remain undecided about their educational future.

Students began taking the AIMS test during the Spring semester of their sophomore year and re‑took each portion of the test they did not pass until they met or exceeded the Arizona standards. The state offered tutoring assistance to help them become proficient in each problem area.

“The state also provided us this year with what they call ‘prescriptions,’ ” Dillard said. The school received a detailed summary for each junior and senior who did not yet meet standards. It identified where they were less proficient. Additionally, more than 100 O’Connor students –mostly seniors–took advantage of the district’s AIMS intervention program which replaced electives in schedules with semester‑long classes devoted to AIMS preparation. Approximately 60 students enrolled in one of three math classes offered by the school, and 25 students took advantage of the writing and reading classes.

Tutoring was also made available to Cactus Shadows students. The school used funds from a state grant to provide three teachers as tutors. Any senior who did not pass one or more sections of AIMS could receive 90 hours of free tutoring. Because the teachers contracted directly with the state, district administrators do not know how many students attended. Dr. Debbi Burdick, CCUSD’s associate superintendent of teaching and learning, noted most tutoring sessions were held during the teachers’ prep period or after school to accommodate student schedules.

“They really work hard at getting those kids beefed up,” related Cactus Shadows Principal Sid Bailey, referring to the school’s “great teaching core.” He said when teachers see students struggling in language arts or math, they reach out to those students with extra assistance. As a result, every eligible senior graduated, although 18 did not due to a lack of credits.

“We’re delighted, of course, that AIMS was not an issue for our students,” Bailey said. He cited several reasons for CSHS’s success, including aligning the curriculum to state standards, retaining quality teachers and having a small transient population of students to facilitate a streamlined learning process.

“I think we have a culture in our area where they know that school is important,” Burdick said.

Reach the reporter at ambria@thedesertadvocate.com.