The Nebraska Department of Education released the Nebraska Student-Centered Assessment System (NSCAS) results and the Accountability for a Quality Education System Today and Tomorrow, or AQuESTT classifications. Both reports provide insight into how students are performing academically on Nebraska’s state standards.
This year the NDE had the opportunity to set new cut scores, the scores that determine levels of proficiency. This happens anytime there is a new assessment or a significant change in an existing assessment. The English Language Arts assessment was new for 2022. These new cut scores better reflect student achievement in Nebraska when compared to students nationally. For years Nebraska has been near the top of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) assessments and ranks high when compared to other states that test the majority of their students on the ACT.
NSCAS English Language Arts (ELA), Mathematics, and Science are rigorous assessments with high expectations for postsecondary readiness. NSCAS ELA and Mathematics are given in grades three through eight. NSCAS science assessments are given in fifth and eighth grades and Nebraska juniors take the ACT assessment.
Nebraska’s purpose of statewide annual assessments continues to provide comparable data to identify outcome gaps; empower educators, parents, and families with data to inform education planning and decision-making; help evaluate academic programs across districts and schools; and prioritize additional funds, resources, and supports to the schools, educators, and students who need them most.
On a local level, Riverside received great news about student achievement growth during the 2022-23 school year in the most recent assessment ratings released. Three levels of proficiency were determined for each student in grades 3-8 and 11 based on test performance: Developing, On Track, and Advanced. The percentage of overall proficiency in meeting state standards was calculated based on the scores of students achieving the "On Track" and "Advanced" levels. Riverside’s results are as follows:
Content Area | Riverside Overall Proficiency Average | STATE Overall Proficiency Average |
English Language Arts | 62% | 58% |
Math | 73% | 61% |
Science | 85% | 70% |
In addition to assessment results, Nebraska released accountability ratings. State and federal law requires the NDE to annually classify and designate schools to provide signals for specific supports. Nebraska’s system, AQuESTT - helps ensure all students across all backgrounds and circumstances have access to opportunities. AQuESTT annually classifies schools and districts as Excellent (4), Great (3), Good (2), and Needs Support to Improve (1). The data from the educational accountability system, AQuESTT, gave Riverside very high marks in several categories.
District Entity Breakdown | Classification (4-Excellent, 3-Great, 2-Good, 1-Needs Support to Improve) |
Riverside School District as a whole | 3-Great |
Riverside Cedar Rapids Elementary | 3-Great |
Riverside Spalding Elementary | 4-Excellent |
Riverside Middle School | 4-Excellent |
Riverside High School | 3-Great |
We are beyond excited that our Riverside students are rated well above the state average in all tested content areas of math, science, and English Language Arts. We will celebrate our success and continue to strive for growth from all of our students and staff. The AQuESTT report on the classification of schools and district assessment results is available at https://nep.education.ne.gov/. If you have questions, please contact me at stephanie.kaczor@riversideps.org.