The majority of Howard County schools that took the state performance tests in the spring improved their scores, according to a report given to school board members last night.

The report, a detailed breakdown school by school, follows news this week that the county became the first in Maryland to have more than 60 percent of its students (60.1) receive a satisfactory or higher score.

Of the 48 schools that took the Maryland School Performance Assessment Program -- a test given to third-, fifth- and eighth-graders in the spring -- 32 increased their composite scores, two remained unchanged and 14 declined between 1997 and 1998.

The test evaluates proficiency in reading, writing, language use, math, science and social studies. Statewide, 44.1 percent of students received a satisfactory or better score.

This year, the biggest gains were made in elementary reading, with the county's fifth-graders raising their scores more than 15 points in the last two years. Third-graders' reading scores went up six points during the same period. However, reading performance among eighth-graders dropped, with 34.2 percent scoring satisfactorily compared with 37 percent last year.

While Howard did not meet the state's goal for 2000 -- 70 percent of students achieving at least a satisfactory score -- it did reach the "approaching the standard" category, defined as any score at or above 50 percent.

"According to this criterion, Howard County is approaching the standard in all content areas at all grade levels, except grade 8 reading," the report noted.

Individually, some schools reached exceptional heights.

Centennial Lane Elementary School received excellent ratings in all subject areas in fifth grade. Hollifield Station Elementary School reached across-the-board satisfactory achievement among third-graders. Atholton Elementary School also met the standard in all areas among fifth-graders.

At Manor Woods Elementary School fifth-graders achieved excellent scores in all subject areas for the second year in a row.

"We're pretty happy about that," said Principal John Morningstar. "I've got an unbelievable staff. They work so hard."

Manor Woods fifth-graders reached the excellent standard across the board for the second year in a row.

But a handful of schools -- some of them focus schools that receive extra resources because of lower academic performance saw their scores decline substantially.

Superintendent Michael E. Hickey said some of those schools have more students who are poor. He said the board will be getting a more comprehensive report on the focus schools initiative in February that will, in part, address test scores.

"They may not be doing badly" on the MSPAP, Hickey said, "but they're not doing what they should be doing."

Addressing middle school reading scores, officials said MSPAP measures more than basic reading skills at the eighth-grade level. Those students are expected to apply what Associate Superintendent Sandra Erickson called "higher-order thinking" on the reading test.

"Here, it's not the ability just to locate the blocks and put them in place, but to know how to design buildings," said Chris Paulis, a reading instructional facilitator.

Paulis said the county has started several programs aimed at improving the reading skills of middle school students. Over the summer, teachers and administrators attended a countywide workshop on how reading is scored on the MSPAP. A pilot program emphasizes schoolwide reading as well as reading classes for all middle-schoolers, and officials hope to launch a "Reading Leadership Institute" next summer for administrators.

While pleased with test results overall, board members acknowledged that the school system has work to do in some areas.

"There is much to celebrate here, but by the same token, we're not where we need to be," Vice Chairman Stephen C. Bounds said.

Also last night:

The board voted to pursue a renovation plan for Ellicott Mills Middle School that would tear down the building -- the oldest part of which was built in 1939 -- instead of preserving parts of it.

Members of a planning committee for the project, including parents, teachers and building experts, had voted unanimously in favor of demolishing the old school and building a modified version of the county's prototype middle school.

Keeping parts of the old school, which has several structural problems, would have made the renovation problematic, said Thomas Clark of Thomas Clark Associates Architects. The renovation plan that includes demolition would cost about $10.2 million and be completed by 2001. Until then, Ellicott Mills students will attend school for two years at Bonnie Branch Middle School, which is to open in the fall.

School officials said that there had not been an outpouring of community support for keeping parts of the old building intact.

"I think that, personally, is the best way to go if the community is not unhappy," said board member Jane B. Schuchardt.

Incumbent board member Sandra H. French and newcomer Laura Waters were sworn in. Karen B. Campbell is the new board chairwoman.

Howard County middle schools

This table shows composite index scores for Howard County middle schools over the past six years under the Maryland School Performance Assessment Program. The composite is roughly equivalent to the overall percentage of students who scored at a satisfactory level or better on the MSPAP tests. The last column shows the percentage-point improvement since the tests were first administered in 1993.

.................... 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1993, Chg.

Maryland ........... 44.1, 41.8, 40.7, 39.6, 35.3, 31.7, 12.4

Countywide ......... 60.1, 57.6, 56.9, 56.0, 51.3, 48.7, 11.4

Burleigh Manor ..... 71.9, 72.8, 74.5, 72.3, 70.7, 65.6, 6.3

Clarksville ........ 67.8, 63.1, 59.7, 71.5, 63.2, 65.2, 2.6

Dunloggin .......... 62.3, 63.4, 59.4, 61.2, 55.9, 54.9, 7.4

Elkridge Landing ... 55.2, 54.8, 52.9, NA.., NA.., NA.., NA

Ellicott Mills ..... 46.6, 55.8, 55.4, 58.1, 57.0, 38.1, 8.5

Glenwood ........... 58.7, 63.5, 65.3, 65.6, 61.2, 45.2, 13.5

Hammond ............ 66.3, 48.2, 51.5, 48.7, 35.8, 38.4, 27.9

Harper's Choice .... 65.7, 64.7, 70.8, 71.0, 51.7, 49.8, 15.9

Mayfield Woods ..... 44.7, 45.9, 51.7, 48.4, 50.8, 45.9, -1.2

Mount View ......... 56.2, 56.2, 59.9, 59.2, 48.9, NA.., NA

Murray Hill ........ 43.1, NA.., NA.., NA.., NA.., NA.., NA

Oakland Mills ...... 46.1, 55.9, 50.8, 58.1, 55.7, 42.8, 3.3

Owen Brown ......... 38.0, 49.4, 47.4, 49.9, 54.5, 43.9, -5.9

Patapsco ........... 68.2, 60.4, 63.3, 71.1, 60.2, 52.7, 15.5

Patuxent Valley .... 36.3, 36.2, 49.1, 38.3, 52.2, 39.9, -3.6

Wilde Lake ......... 56.7, 46.6, 54.8, 52.0, 58.9, 51.7, 5.0

Howard County elementary schools This table shows composite index scores for Howard County elementary schools over the past six years under the Maryland School Performance Assessment Program. The composite is roughly equivalent to the overall percentage of students who scored at a satisfactory level or better on the MSPAP tests. The last column shows the percentage-point improvement since the tests were first administered in 1993.

.................... 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1993, Chg.

Maryland ........... 44.1, 41.8, 40.7, 39.6, 35.3, 31.7, 12.4

Countywide ......... 60.1, 57.6, 56.9, 56.0, 51.3, 48.7, 11.4

Atholton ........... 73.4, 58.3, 63.8, 60.4, 54.1, 52.0, 21.4

Bollman Bridge ..... 54.0, 60.9, 58.9, 49.6, 54.7, 49.3, 4.7

Bryant Woods ....... 62.4, 57.0, 69.0, 55.6, 50.6, 42.8, 19.6

Bushy Park ......... 72.0, 67.3, 65.8, 64.8, 61.6, 59.2, 12.8

Centennial Lane .... 79.5, 71.0, 65.1, 65.1, 62.9, 62.2, 17.3

Clarksville ........ 70.2, 69.6, 59.3, 55.0, 53.6, 41.9, 28.3

Clemens Crossing ... 68.2, 64.4, 62.5, 67.5, 60.1, 61.0, 7.2

Dasher Green ....... 56.5, 44.1, 45.6, 42.2, 39.3, 42.7, 13.8

Deep Run ........... 59.2, 51.5, 51.9, 54.0, 43.2, 43.9, 15.3

Elkridge ........... 52.6, 42.6, 39.8, 42.7, 34.5, 40.4, 12.2

Forest Ridge ....... 64.6, 66.7, 60.6, 67.0, 48.6, 57.4, 7.2

Fulton ............. 63.0, NA.., NA.., NA.., NA.., NA.., NA

Guilford ........... 49.9, 51.5, 45.3, 48.8, 38.5, 36.9, 13.0

Hammond ............ 74.7, 71.8, 63.5, 68.6, 61.5, 53.1, 21.6

Hollifield Station.. 70.8, NA.., NA.., NA.., NA.., NA.., NA

Ilchester .......... 66.3, 63.2, NA.., NA.., NA.., NA.., NA

Jeffers Hill ....... 50.8, 45.1, 49.1, 44.0, 46.0, 43.5, 7.3

Laurel Woods ....... 35.1, 40.0, 33.0, 39.7, 34.3, 47.5, -12.4

Lisbon ............. 61.1, 53.9, 57.6, 49.7, 52.9, 45.8, 15.3

Longfellow ......... 57.3, 51.9, 56.0, 51.3, 56.6, 46.4, 10.9

Manor Woods ........ 72.1, 69.7, 64.8, 66.5, NA.., NA.., NA

Northfield ......... 74.3, 70.4, 69.5, 60.4, 57.6, 57.7, 16.6

Phelps Luck ........ 48.5, 56.1, 37.3, 45.7, 47.8, 37.6, 10.9

Pointers Run ....... 71.6, 67.5, 62.8, 64.3, 55.2, 45.8, 25.8

Rockburn ........... 56.9, 54.9, 59.4, 55.2, 53.2, NA.., NA

Running Brook ...... 40.0, 43.2, 50.6, 39.5, 42.8, 35.5, 4.5

St John's Lane ..... 62.2, 56.2, 52.3, 50.4, 40.2, 42.7, 19.5

Stevens Forest ..... 60.1, 54.8, 63.7, 58.0, 38.4, 45.3, 14.8

Swansfield ......... 55.8, 50.7, 49.4, 55.4, 50.5, 61.7, -5.9

Talbott Springs .... 41.6, 50.7, 40.7, 37.0, 33.0, 39.0, 2.6

Thunder Hill ....... 70.5, 65.3, 71.3, 62.5, 61.1, 62.5, 8.0

Waterloo ........... 60.9, 55.0, 53.7, 54.4, 25.3, 40.2, 20.7

Waverly ............ 73.8, 66.4, 63.7, 57.4, 58.4, 52.4, 21.4

West Friendship .... 61.4, 55.4, 60.2, 63.0, 49.2, 51.8, 9.6

Worthington ........ 69.0, 68.3, 65.2, 57.8, 55.3, 46.4, 22.6

Pub Date: 12/11/98