New York State recently released its 2009-10 report card for the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District and while Regents score are down slightly in the district, they are still far above the state averages.
Inside the Numbers
When looking at the charts, there are five different categories. The "subject" is the area tested by the particular Regents exam. The "total tested" are the number of students tested either in the district or the state for that specific exam.
The three different numbers that follow are the percentage of students who scored 55 percent or better on the exam, students who scored 65 percent or better on the exam and students who scored 85 percent or better on the exam.
The most important number to look at when reviewing the charts is the percentage of students with at least a 65 on each exam. The passing grade for every Regents exam is a 65.
CHSD Numbers
The total number of students tested in the Bellmore-Merrick CHSD in 2009-10 reached 8,348, compared with 7,725 the year before.
The total average percentage of students who passed the Regents exams dropped from 92.33 percent in 2008-09 to 92 percent in 2009-10.
In 2008-09, the district's worst scores came on the Physics Regents, which showed an increase in scores in 2009-10.
The district's worst scores in 2009-10 came on the Chemistry Regents, which slightly decreased in average from 2008-09.
The changes in scoring can be attributed to the number of students taking each exam. For example, the number of student that took the Integrated Algebra Regents nearly doubled from 545 students in the previous year to 1074 students in 2009-10. The score of that exam dropped a full 7 percent over the year.
District vs. State Numbers
The Bellmore-Merrick CHSD's numbers were way above the state in every category of testing.
The average percentage of students across the state who had a passing grade on the Regents was 75.11 percent, compared with the previously mentioned 92 percent in the CHSD.
The state's overall highest scoring exam, U.S. History and Government, was tied with Comprehensive English for the highest in the CHSD.
One of the district's most impressive numbers in comparison to the state is the percentage of students who passed the Mathematics B Regents. Just 61 percents of students statewide passed the exam – the lowest number of any exam in the state – whereas 86 percent of students in the CHSD received a passing grade.
Despite the impressive numbers in comparison with the state, the 86 percent of students who passed the Mathematics B Regents is also tied with the Chemistry Regents for the lowest passing percentage in the district.
Bellmore-Merrick CHSD 2009-10 (Highest percentages in bold)
Total Tested 55% or Better
65% or Better
85% or Better
Comprehensive English 1030 99% 97% 67% Mathematics B 903 94% 86% 40% Integrated Algebra 1074 97% 96% 45% Global History & Geography 1040 96% 91% 52% U.S. History & Government 1051 97% 95% 71% Living Environment 1028 99% 96% 65% Earth Science 1030 95% 91% 56% Chemistry 785 98% 86% 31% Physics 407 96% 90% 44%
State Results 2009-10 (Highest percentages in bold)
Subject Total Tested 55% or Better 65% or Better 85% or Better Comprehensive English 227,616 90% 83% 35% Mathematics B 39,309 75% 61% 16% Integrated Algebra 275,747 85% 72% 15% Global History & Geography 245,336 81% 70% 29% U.S. History & Government 217,189 90% 83% 44% Living Environment 237,522 88% 78% 31% Earth Science 165,230 85% 74% 31% Chemistry 108,749 90% 73% 15% Physics 48,772 90% 82% 33%Bellmore-Merrick CHSD 2008-09 (Highest percentages in bold)
Subject Total Tested 55% or Better65% or Better
85% or Better
Comprehensive English 991 99% 98% 60% Mathematics B 875 92% 85% 38% Integrated Algebra 545 99% 98% 62% Global History & Geography 1085 96% 92% 55% U.S. History & Government 992 98% 94% 65% Living Environment 982 99% 98% 64% Earth Science 1071 96% 93% 57% Chemistry 765 97% 86% 37% Physics 419 95% 87% 32%
