Data & Study Skills: Winter Update

Welcome back, Oakhill families! In the fall, we shared insights into the standardized assessments we use at school and how they help us, as educators, personalize goals for students, make classroom adjustments, and support our professional development. We also provided some tips on how to interpret the data. As we enter the second semester, we are approaching standardized testing time and wanted to take a moment to share some exciting highlights from this year so far.

Although assessments are one piece of the puzzle, they are just that—a piece. Our teachers and students have truly set personal goals for growth this year, and it’s been incredible to see the progress! Below, you’ll find some amazing highlights and trends that showcase the hard work, dedication, and growth happening across our classrooms.

 

i-Ready highlights 

 

Kindergarten through eighth grade students take the i-Ready diagnostic benchmark assessments three times a year. The i-Ready digital reading and math assessments, developed by Curriculum Associates, help teachers to effectively assess students so they can provide instruction based on each student's unique needs, as well as help students set individual goals. 

 

Oakhill students recently took the winter round of i-Ready in January and February. The winter diagnostic provides recent data that can be used in comparison with data from the fall. This comparison allows us to highlight growth in the domains and find areas of academic need. We are proud to share that the School Diagnostic Growth Report, which compares fall to winter data growth, shows that Oakhill’s performance lands in the High Achievement/High Growth quadrant in both math and reading.

 

The foundational domains of phonological awareness, phonics, and sight word reading are consistently high performing domains for Oakhill Day School. This data shows that students are displaying proficiency in letter-sound connections needed for future reading and spelling success. Our Early Childhood program and teachers also play a large role in the success of these foundational domains helping prepare students for the Lower School curriculum and continually raising the bar in Early Childhood literacy instruction. 

 

The winter math diagnostic also showed large growth overall. Highlights include a large percentage of growth in the Number Sense and Operations domain overall. This domain forms the foundation for other mathematical concepts and consists of fundamental operations, number relationships and place value. As students develop understanding in this domain, it leads to the ability to solve more complex problems, such as Algebraic equations. Our winter data also shows good growth in the Algebraic Thinking and Geometry domains. Furthermore, the data shows that more than half of the students who fell below the grade level benchmark in the fall are now at or above grade level in all math domains.

 

We are excited to see continued growth in both reading and math throughout the second semester and are proud of the success that all grade levels have achieved.

Beginnings & Ends: How Our Students Shine in ERB Standardized Growth

At Oakhill, our students begin their journey with standardized testing in 3rd grade when they take their first ERB CTP. While this experience can feel intimidating, our students are well-prepared because our teachers integrate a variety of assessments, utilize resources that play to students’ strengths, and embed test-taking strategies into everyday learning. Thanks to this approach, our 3rd graders consistently score at or above the independent school mean across the board, demonstrating a strong foundation in key academic areas.

By the time our students reach 8th grade, they finish their Oakhill journey with confidence, excelling in areas such as reading comprehension, vocabulary, and writing concepts and skills. Our 8th graders consistently perform above the independent school mean in communication arts, a testament to the strength of our curriculum and instruction.

Science Success

We are incredibly proud of our Science Department at Oakhill, which stands out for its hands-on experiments and engaging activities. This hands-on learning is reflected in our ERB scores, where our students regularly perform at or above the independent norm. But what does that mean? Scoring at or above the independent norm means that our students are performing as well as or better than other independent school students across the country. 

ERB Highlights

Last year, our 3rd graders excelled in multiple areas, scoring at or above the independent mean in:

• Auditory Comprehension – The ability to listen, process, and understand spoken information.
• Quantitative Reasoning – The skill of analyzing numerical patterns and relationships, a critical component of problem-solving in math.
• Science – A reflection of their strong understanding of scientific concepts and inquiry.
• Verbal Reasoning – The ability to understand and analyze verbal information, which supports reading comprehension and critical thinking.

Our 8th graders closed out their Oakhill careers with equally impressive results, particularly in reading comprehension, vocabulary, and writing concepts and skills. These strong performances highlight how Oakhill students not only meet but exceed expectations, leaving well-prepared for the next stage of their academic journeys.

From their first ERB in 3rd grade to their final one in 8th grade, our students consistently rise to the challenge, showing growth, confidence, and academic excellence

PreACT

Although ERBs and iReady are important assessments, we believe it is also our responsibility to prepare our 8th graders for the steps ahead—both in high school and beyond. One key part of that journey in the world of standardized testing is the PreACT.

This year, our 8th graders had the opportunity to spend time with an ACT representative, learning about the test, what their scores mean, and the benefits of preparation, including scholarships, college admissions, and overall college readiness. Parents joined the session alongside their students, asking insightful questions and gaining a deeper understanding of the testing process.

When results came back, we dedicated a class period for students to review their scores, ask questions about their data, and reflect on their performance. They considered what surprised them, identified areas for improvement, and set goals for raising their scores. Each student also took home their test booklet for additional practice and to share with their parents. This experience not only provided valuable insight but also gave students a tangible starting point for their future test preparation!

Stay tuned for more updates as we move into the spring about data and study skills!