For the second year in a row, Westbury School District fourth graders have made significant improvement on the New York State Education Department's (SED) English Language Arts (ELA) assessment, administered in February. SED reported that 73 percent of Westbury fourth graders achieved either the Level 3 or Level 4 distinctions on the 2001 exam, a momentous climb from just two years ago, when 42 percent of students achieved Level 3 or 4.

Level 3 and Level 4 represent the highest levels of achievement on state standardized tests. The number of Westbury general education students who scored in Level 4-the highest category on the exam, more than doubled from last year. There was also an 8 percent increase in the number of special education students moving up from the Level 2 to Level 3 categories.

Westbury fourth graders achieved a performance index of 173, shattering the state's performance index of 145. The performance index is a numerical value assigned as a standard to evaluate the performance of students on the ELA and math examinations. Furthermore, Westbury outperformed 49 school districts (and tied 3) throughout Nassau and Suffolk Counties on the fourth grade ELA exam.

"Our students continue to make tremendous strides in the areas of reading and writing," said Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction and Personnel Dr. William K. Lloyd. "The district will continue to implement strategies and explore ways to further improve our instructional program to raise the level of academic success in all students."

Dr. Lloyd attributed the success of the past two years to several extra help initiatives, including enrichment programs, tutorials, the Saturday Academy and Academic Intervention Services, as well as outstanding classroom instruction. He added that supportive and involved parents have also helped to make a difference. Increased involvement in school workshops has equipped parents with several testing techniques and home exercises that have proven to yield positive results.

"We are in the midst of a critical transition period for public education in New York State, as more SED assessments and Regents will be integrated into the curriculum next year," added Superintendent of Schools Dr. Constance Clark. "The entire school community: teachers, staff, administrators, our board of education and, of course, our students and parents, have been working together to help our students make the grade. The performance of Powell's Lane and Drexel Avenue Schools on the Fourth Grade ELA exam is an encouraging sign. It shows that a unified effort can produce positive results; results that can carry over into other subjects."