California Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBAC) 2015 16 Results Created August 24, 2016 Updated September 7, 2016
ABOUT THE TEST & SCORES 2015 16 SBAC Results The Smarter Balanced (SBAC) assessments were administered for the first time in 2015. These assessments, aligned with new California standards that are based on the Common Core, are more challenging than the previous California Standards Test. SBAC test results from last and this year should not be compared to previous CST results. California is part of a consortia of 15 states administering the Common Core assessments. SBAC measures knowledge and skills in English language arts/literacy (ELA) and Mathematics for grades 3 8 and 11. These standards are meant to foster college and career readiness. The scores tell us how many students are meeting the newer, more rigorous standards the goals for what students should know and do at each grade level. They also tell us how many students are exceeding standards, nearly meeting standards, and not meeting standards. Because we now have access to two years of SBAC results, we are able to measure improvement from last year s baseline. WHAT THE RESULTS TELL US There are large achievement gaps, with economically disadvantaged students, English learners, African American students, and Latino students performing far below their economically advantaged, White, and Asian peers. Virtually all subgroups have improved performance from last year to this year. However, some groups have improved at a faster rate, further widening achievement gaps.
2014 15 to 2015 16 Comparisons
Improvement is evident across all grades in Math from 2014 15 to 2015 16 Percent Meeting or Exceeding Standards on SBAC Math Across the Grades (2014 15 vs. 2015 16) 40% 46% 35% 38% 30% 33% 33% 35% 34% 36% 36% 33% 30% 32% 34% 37% 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 11th ALL GRADES 2014 15 2015 16 Source: California Department of Education, 2016 (accessed August 2016). Numbers may sum differently due to rounding.
Achievement gaps widened between African American and Latino students and their peers of other ethnicities in Math Percent Meeting or Exceeding Standards on SBAC Math, All Grades, by Ethnicity (2014 15 vs. 2015 16) 72% 69% 57% 52% 53% 52% 49% 49% 16% 18% 25% 22% 24% 21% 30% 27% 37% 34% African American American Indian Asian Filipino Latino Pacific Islander White Two or More Races ALL STUDENTS 2014 15 2015 16 Source: California Department of Education, 2016 (accessed August 2016). Numbers may sum differently due to rounding.
Improvement is evident across all grades in ELA from 2014 15 to 2015 16 Percent Meeting or Exceeding Standards on SBAC English Language Arts Across the Grades (2014 15 vs. 2015 16) 38% 42% 40% 44% 45% 49% 47% 48% 49% 43% 44% 45% 56% 59% 44% 48% 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 11th ALL GRADES 2014 15 2015 16 Source: California Department of Education, 2016 (accessed August 2016). Numbers may sum differently due to rounding.
Improvement across all ethnic subgroups is still not sufficient to close achievement gaps in ELA Percent Meeting or Exceeding Standards on SBAC English Language Arts, All Grades, by Ethnicity (2014 15 vs. 2015 16) 75% 72% 70% 65% 64% 61% 63% 59% 31% 28% 36% 33% 37% 32% 42% 38% 48% 44% African American Native American Asian Filipino Latino Pacific Islander White Two or More Races ALL STUDENTS 2014 15 2015 16 Source: California Department of Education, 2016 (accessed August 2016). Numbers may sum differently due to rounding.
Gaps between English learners and non English learners have widened in ELA and Math Percent Meeting or Exceeding Standards on SBAC English Language Arts and Math, All Grades, by English Learner Status (2014 15 vs. 2015 16) 50% 54% 39% 42% 11% 13% 11% 12% 2014 15 2015 16 2014 15 2015 16 ELA Math English Learner English Only Source: California Department of Education, 2016 (accessed August 2016). Numbers may sum differently due to rounding.
Gaps between low income and non low income students have widened in Math Percent Meeting or Exceeding Standards on SBAC English Language Arts and Math, All Grades, by Income Status (2014 15 vs. 2015 16) 64% 67% 53% 56% 31% 35% 21% 23% 2014 15 2015 16 2014 15 2015 16 ELA Math Low Income Not Low Income Source: California Department of Education, 2016 (accessed August 2016). Numbers may sum differently due to rounding.
Some districts average scores improved by an entire performance level from 2014 15 to 2015 16 2800 Mean Scale Scores for Most Improved Districts on SBAC ELA, 8 th Grade (2014 15 vs. 2015 16) Standard Exceeded 2668 Standard Met 2567 2504 2592 2532 2616 2622 2546 2526 2602 2503 2571 2527 2510 2574 2523 2586 2624 2629 2563 2572 Standard Nearly Met 2487 2460 Standard Not Met 2288 2200 Dehesa Elementary Pond Union Elementary Vallecitos Elementary Sierra Plumas Joint Princeton Joint Westside Elementary La Honda Pescadero Johnstonville Elementary Bolinas Stinson Union Sunol Glen 2014 15 2015 16 Source: Education Trust West analysis of California Department of Education data, 2016 (accessed August 2016). Scale scores fall on a continuous scale (from Source: approximately 2000 to 3000) that increases across grade levels and can be used to understand achievement and growth over time.
Some districts average scores improved by an entire performance level from 2014 15 to 2015 16 2800 Mean Scale Scores for Most Improved Districts on SBAC Math, 11 th Grade (2014 15 vs. 2015 16) Standard Exceeded 2718 Standard Met 2628 Standard Nearly Met 2543 2475 2573 2464 2546 2579 2648 2551 2552 2489 2497 2537 2589 2562 2612 2537 2586 2492 2542 2612 2659 Standard Not Met 2280 2200 Chawanakee Big Valley Joint Sierra Plumas Joint Washington Linden 2014 15 2015 16 La Honda Pescadero Plumas Summerville Union High Willits Beverly Hills Source: Education Trust West analysis of California Department of Education data, 2016 (accessed August 2016). Scale scores fall on a continuous scale (from Source: approximately 2000 to 3000) that increases across grade levels and can be used to understand achievement and growth over time.
2015 16 Mathematics Results
Math performance is highest in 3 rd grade but relatively similar across the other grades Performance on SBAC Math Across the Grades (2015 16) 18% 28% 15% 23% 17% 17% 17% 19% 13% 17% 16% 18% 19% 17% 20% 20% 26% 33% 28% 30% 30% 25% 25% 28% 29% 28% 39% 35% 34% 39% 43% 35% 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 11th ALL GRADES Standard Not Met Standard Nearly Met Standard Met Standard Exceeded Source: California Department of Education, 2016 (accessed August 2016).
Some low income ethnic subgroups outperform non low income ethnic subgroups in Math Percent Meeting or Exceeding Standards on SBAC Math, All Grades, by Income by Ethnicity (2015 16) Low Income African American, 30% Latino, 38% Native American, 39% Pacific Islander, 41% ALL STUDENTS, 56% White, 61% Filipino, 63% Two or More Races, 64% Asian, 82% African American, 14% Native American, 17% Latino, 20% ALL STUDENTS, 23% Pacific Islander, 24% White, 31% Two or More Races, 29% Filipino, 44% Asian, 53% 0% 100% Not Low Income Source: California Department of Education, 2016 (accessed August 2016). Numbers may sum differently due to rounding.
Achievement gaps begin as early as 3 rd grade Performance on SBAC Math, 3 rd Grade, by Ethnicity (2015 16) 7% 20% 46% 30% 30% 37% 29% 28% 9% 9% 12% 25% 25% 28% 31% 35% 18% 28% 28% 46% 14% 9% 21% 12% 29% 27% 29% 37% 39% 32% 21% 21% 26% 18% 16% 29% African American Asian Filipino Latino Native American Pacific Islander Two or More Races White ALL STUDENTS Standard Not Met Standard Nearly Met Standard Met Standard Exceeded Source: California Department of Education, 2016 (accessed August 2016).
Reclassified English learners far outperform English learners and other selected subgroups in 3 rd grade Math Performance on SBAC Math, 3 rd Grade, by Selected Subgroups (2015 16) 28% 9% 6% 24% 19% 41% 7% 14% 18% 28% 29% 30% 38% 46% 23% 19% 8% 61% 26% 29% Low Income English Learner Reclassified Fluent English Proficient Students with Disabilities ALL STUDENTS Standard Not Met Standard Nearly Met Standard Met Standard Exceeded Source: California Department of Education, 2016 (accessed August 2016).
Most subgroups of color are not meeting standards in 8 th grade Math Performance on SBAC Math, 8 th Grade, by Ethnicity (2015 16) 6% 11% 24% 59% 55% 32% 28% 29% 12% 19% 9% 9% 19% 25% 14% 14% 17% 21% 22% 17% 15% 25% 28% 27% 30% 25% 25% 25% 12% 19% 27% 24% 39% 49% 50% 40% African American Asian Filipino Latino Native American Pacific Islander Two or More Races White ALL STUDENTS Standard Not Met Standard Nearly Met Standard Met Standard Exceeded Source: California Department of Education, 2016 (accessed August 2016).
Too few students in selected subgroups are meeting standards in 8 th grade Math Performance on SBAC Math, 8 th Grade, by Selected Subgroups (2015 16) 9% 14% 27% 3% 4% 15% 17% 19% 30% 3% 4% 13% 19% 17% 25% 50% 78% 34% 80% 39% Low Income English Learner Reclassified Fluent English Proficient Students with Disabilities ALL STUDENTS Standard Not Met Standard Nearly Met Standard Met Standard Exceeded Source: California Department of Education, 2016 (accessed August 2016).
Few 11 th grade students are considered collegeready in Math Performance on SBAC Math, 11 th Grade, by Ethnicity (2015 16) 43% 19% 18% 18% 3% 5% 13% 27% 32% 7% 7% 11% 15% 16% 18% 24% 26% 20% 22% 16% 27% 26% 24% 28% 25% 25% 25% 14% 22% 32% 30% 63% 54% 53% 47% 43% 11 th graders who score in the Standard Exceeded range are considered ready for college level math upon entering a CSU or CCC and may directly enroll in a forcredit math course without taking a placement exam or first enrolling in a developmental math course. African American Asian Filipino Latino Native American Pacific Islander Two or More Races White ALL STUDENTS Standard Not Met Standard Nearly Met Standard Met Standard Exceeded Source: California Department of Education, 2016 (accessed August 2016).
Most students in selected subgroups are performing far below standards in high school Math 6% 15% 25% Performance on SBAC Math, 11 th Grade, by Selected Subgroups (2015 16) 2% 4% 10% 10% 20% 29% 1% 4% 10% 54% 85% 41% 85% 13% 20% 25% 43% 11 th graders who score in the Standard Exceeded range are considered ready for college level math upon entering a CSU or CCC and may directly enroll in a for credit math course without taking a placement exam or first enrolling in a developmental math course. Low Income English Learner Reclassified Fluent English Proficient Students with Disabilities ALL STUDENTS Standard Not Met Standard Nearly Met Standard Met Standard Exceeded Source: California Department of Education, 2016 (accessed August 2016).
2015 16 English Language Arts / Literacy Results
ELA performance across the grades is relatively similar Performance on SBAC ELA Across the Grades (2015 16) 22% 23% 21% 17% 15% 14% 26% 20% 21% 21% 28% 31% 33% 34% 33% 29% 25% 20% 21% 26% 24% 27% 22% 24% 32% 36% 31% 26% 28% 25% 19% 28% 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 11th ALL GRADES Standard Not Met Standard Nearly Met Standard Met Standard Exceeded Source: California Department of Education, 2016 (accessed August 2016).
Some low income ethnic subgroups perform better than non low income ethnic subgroups in ELA Percent Meeting or Exceeding Standards on SBAC ELA, All Grades, by Income by Ethnicity (2015 16) Low Income African American, 47% Native American, 52% Latino, 54% Pacific Islander, 55% ALL STUDENTS, 67% White, 72% Two or More Races, 74% Filipino, 75% Asian, 84% African American, 25% Native American, 27% Latino, 32% ALL STUDENTS, 35% Pacific Islander, 35% White, 43% Two or More Races, 42% Asian, 59% Filipino, 59% 0% 100% Not Low Income Source: California Department of Education, 2016 (accessed August 2016). Numbers may sum differently due to rounding.
Most subgroups of color are not meeting standards in 3 rd grade ELA Performance on SBAC ELA, 3 rd Grade, by Ethnicity (2015 16) 11% 16% 46% 38% 23% 26% 36% 35% 12% 12% 16% 22% 18% 19% 20% 24% 25% 21% 26% 47% 17% 22% 28% 28% 29% 13% 14% 41% 41% 35% 21% 22% 25% 20% 18% 32% African American Asian Filipino Latino Native American Pacific Islander Two or More Races White ALL STUDENTS Standard Not Met Standard Nearly Met Standard Met Standard Exceeded Source: California Department of Education, 2016 (accessed August 2016).
Income and language proficiency gaps are persistent in 3 rd grade ELA Performance on SBAC ELA, 3 rd Grade, by Selected Subgroups (2015 16) 33% 11% 5% 18% 13% 32% 28% 28% 26% 8% 43% 54% 7% 9% 18% 65% 22% 21% 25% 32% Low Income English Learner Reclassified Fluent English Proficient Students with Disabilities ALL STUDENTS Standard Not Met Standard Nearly Met Standard Met Standard Exceeded Source: California Department of Education, 2016 (accessed August 2016).
Just one third of African American, Latino, and Native American students are proficient in 8 th grade ELA Performance on SBAC ELA, 8 th Grade, by Ethnicity (2015 16) 6% 26% 38% 25% 39% 45% 23% 23% 7% 8% 9% 30% 29% 34% 40% 42% 14% 34% 28% 40% 14% 20% 8% 10% 31% 29% 30% 31% 34% 27% 22% 22% 27% 15% 14% 25% African American Asian Filipino Latino Native American Pacific Islander Two or More Races White ALL STUDENTS Standard Not Met Standard Nearly Met Standard Met Standard Exceeded Source: California Department of Education, 2016 (accessed August 2016).
English learners post the lowest proficiency rates in 8 th grade ELA Performance on SBAC ELA, 8 th Grade, by Selected Subgroups (2015 16) 7% 12% 14% 29% 6% 40% 2% 9% 34% 31% 26% 32% 21% 27% 33% 68% 16% 68% 25% Low Income English Learner Reclassified Fluent English Proficient Students with Disabilities ALL STUDENTS Standard Not Met Standard Nearly Met Standard Met Standard Exceeded Source: California Department of Education, 2016 (accessed August 2016).
Proficiency rates are highest across subgroups in 11 th grade ELA Performance on SBAC ELA, 11 th Grade, by Ethnicity (2015 16) 52% 39% 36% 36% 16% 17% 17% 26% 13% 39% 28% 29% 34% 33% 34% 34% 35% 33% 11% 15% 27% 7% 27% 26% 25% 18% 17% 22% 6% 12% 12% 19% 23% 25% 23% 32% 11 th graders who score in the Standard Exceeded range are considered ready for college level English upon entering a CSU or CCC and may directly enroll in a for credit English course without taking a placement exam or first enrolling in a developmental English course. African American Asian Filipino Latino Native American Pacific Islander Two or More Races White ALL STUDENTS Standard Not Met Standard Nearly Met Standard Met Standard Exceeded Source: California Department of Education, 2016 (accessed August 2016).
Performance varies significantly across selected subgroups in 11 th grade ELA 16% 32% 25% Performance on SBAC ELA, 11 th Grade, by Selected Subgroups (2015 16) 1% 8% 27% 28% 26% 26% 22% 62% 22% 40% 12% 3% 13% 58% 26% 33% 19% 11 th graders who score in the Standard Exceeded range are considered ready for college level English upon entering a CSU or CCC and may directly enroll in a for credit English course without taking a placement exam or first enrolling in a developmental English course. Low Income English Learner Reclassified Fluent English Proficient Students with Disabilities ALL STUDENTS Standard Not Met Standard Nearly Met Standard Met Standard Exceeded Source: California Department of Education, 2016 (accessed August 2016).
2015 16 Largest District Comparisons
Performance varies significantly across districts with the largest student enrollment in 3 rd grade Math Performance on SBAC Math, 3 rd Grade, Ten Largest Districts in California (2015 16) 25% 13% 15% 16% 26% 9% 25% 31% 28% 25% 31% 30% 8% 22% 29% 23% 33% 35% 6% 22% 26% 23% 30% 28% 28% 22% 31% 21% 23% 30% 35% 21% 27% 39% 25% 22% 39% 17% 20% 42% Los Angeles San Diego Long Beach Fresno Elk Grove San Francisco Santa Ana Capistrano Corona Norco San Bernardino City Standard Not Met Standard Nearly Met Standard Met Standard Exceeded Source: California Department of Education, 2016 (accessed August 2016).
Even greater variation in performance is evident across the largest districts in 8 th grade ELA Performance on SBAC ELA, 8 th Grade, Ten Largest Districts in California (2015 16) 18% 11% 8% 29% 36% 34% 6% 26% 16% 18% 36% 34% 5% 25% 32% 16% 42% 40% 6% 33% 28% 24% 30% 28% 25% 22% 33% 17% 9% 26% 32% 34% 22% 25% 40% 23% 26% 36% 17% 29% Los Angeles San Diego Long Beach Fresno Elk Grove San Francisco Santa Ana Capistrano Corona Norco San Bernardino City Standard Not Met Standard Nearly Met Standard Met Standard Exceeded Source: California Department of Education, 2016 (accessed August 2016).