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OCTOBER 1, 2022
13
Willamina Tribal students’ scores fall in English and math
By Danielle Harrison
Smoke Signals assistant editor/staff writer
WILLAMINA — Like their con-
temporaries around the state, local
Tribal students in the Willamina
School District saw declines in both
their math and English scores af-
ter two years of pandemic-related
disruptions.
However, there were modest
gains in science.
The Oregon Department of Ed-
ucation released its first post-pan-
demic statewide assessment results
on Thursday, Sept. 22.
“I believe the losses we are see-
ing are similar to many districts,
attendance, quarantine and lack of
social activity each played a role in
the lower scores,” Willamina School
District Superintendent Carrie
Zimbrick said. “In addition, many
students in third and fifth grade
have never taken a state assess-
ment until last year. The test itself
is a heavy lift.”
She added that the science test is
easier for students because there is
less emphasis on narrative answers
and it also tests over standards
from the previous years.
Although Willamina School Dis-
trict estimates are that approxi-
mately 40 percent of the students
are Tribal, those who self-identify
solely as American Indian/Alaska
Native are low because many Tribal
students identify as other races
or multiracial, which also affects
the test numbers because it is an
incomplete picture, officials say.
The Willamina scores this year
officially record the scores of
American Indian/Alaska Native
third- through eighth-graders. The
number of 11th-graders participat-
ing in the tests was too low to count
for comparison purposes, mirroring
a trend at the state level.
It’s the first time in three years
that the state has conducted as-
sessments due to the COVID-19
pandemic, when most schools con-
Health & Wellness
Center entrance
Reminder: The drive-through
entrance at the
Health & Wellness Center
is for loading and unloading only.
The entrance was built
with our Elders and those with
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of access in mind.
If you are coming to the center to
pick up prescriptions, please park
in one of our
regular parking spaces.
OREGON STATEWIDE ASSESSMENT
RESULTS FOR INDIGENOUS STUDENTS:
2019 Willamina School District
Science proficiency:
5.6%
Math proficiency:
8.7%
English proficiency:
26%
*2021 Willamina School District
Science proficiency:
10%
Math proficiency:
7.9%
English proficiency:
20.6%
Statewide 2019
Science proficiency:
21.9%
Math proficiency:
22.5%
English proficiency:
38.5%
Statewide 2021
Science proficiency:
15.2%
Math proficiency:
14.3%
English proficiency:
26.4%
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
*Eleventh graders were not included as participation rates were too low
Graph by Samuel Briggs III
ducted their learning remotely for
almost 18 months.
In Willamina, Tribal students
decreased in math proficiency from
8.7 percent in 2019 to 7.9 percent
in 2022. English Language Arts
proficiency decreased from 26 per-
cent to 20.6 percent, while science
proficiency rose from 5.6 percent to
10 percent.
“We will put a lot of emphasis on
attendance this year and creating
a positive school culture, both wel-
coming and safe,” Zimbrick said.
“Teachers will focus on big picture
standards in the core subjects and
provide a lot of individual support
to students. Overall, our Native
students did well compared to
their peers, particularly in ninth
grade on track and graduation
rate.”
Statewide, students who identify
as American Indian/Alaska Native
saw overall proficiency scores drop
from 22.5 percent to 14.3 percent in
math, 35.8 percent to 26.4 percent
in English and 21.9 percent to 15.2
percent in science.
The assessments are designed
to identify differences in various
student groups in third through
eighth grade in the areas of English
and math. Additionally, science
tests are given to students in fifth,
eighth and 11th grade. The term
“proficient” refers to students’
achievement level and whether
they are on track for college or a
career after high school, according
to a press release from the Oregon
Department of Education.
“The assessment results are a call
to action for Oregon to keep advanc-
ing the programs we know meet our
students’ needs,” Department of
Education Director Colt Gill said.
“As expected, the pandemic had an
impact on learning in Oregon and
across the country.
“Thanks to lawmakers passing
the Student Success Act, and the
agency’s implementation of Ele-
mentary and Secondary School
Emergency Relief funds, additional
mental health and well-being sup-
ports, summer learning and other
crucial programs providing engag-
ing instruction and boosting mental
health have been implemented. We
believe the framework is in place to
be able to help Oregon’s students
achieve.
“Oregon’s students of color,
Tribal citizens, students who ex-
perience disability, students nav-
igating poverty and rural students
were disproportionately impacted
and investments to renew and
accelerate learning need to focus
on these communities. We stand
with our districts as they move
forward with the plans they cre-
ated with local community input
to address the needs they see in
their schools.”
The state noted that 11th-grade
scores shouldn’t be compared with
previous year results or across
schools and districts because the
participation rates were below
60 percent. In Willamina, 67.4 of
American Indian/Alaska Native
students participated. Oregon al-
lows parents to opt their students
out of state testing. In the tests
administered in 2019, almost 100
percent of the Willamina students
participated.
“I am sad that our attendance
rate was so low,” Zimbrick said.
“We were on a great trajectory pri-
or to COVID, improving in all key
indicators for the past six years. We
will get there and improve, it will
just take time and effort.”
For more information on scores,
visit oregon.gov/ode/educator-re-
sources/assessment.
Youth Education Program
Washington Exploration Trip
The Youth Education Program is partnering with Youth Empowerment
and Prevention to take high school students on an exploration trip to
Washington State November 7 th through 11 th ! Activities during the trip
will include college visits, visits to tribal schools, meeting with other
tribal youth, and more! Youth Education has six spots available for
Use the QR Code
Grand Ronde tribal, descendent, and other native students. Preference
will be given to junior and senior students.
below to apply!
Questions? Email youtheducation@grandronde.org
This trip is a privilege for students and it will require missing some school.
Students must meet the following requirements to attend:
Submit a complete application by October 21 st at 5pm
Good attendance standing with school
Passing all current classes with a “C” or better
Cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better
Currently on track to graduate
Youth Education staff will be confirming all requirements for applicants. We
need a current ROI and that can be filled out at the following link:
https://bit.ly/ctgreducationroi. Applicants will be selected and notified by
October 26 th .
