Madison students tested on the 2005-06 Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Examination (WKCE) surpassed their state peers in the "advanced" category — the highest category — at all grade levels and in both reading and math, district officials said today. More than 12,000 of the district's 24,490 students took the tests.

This level of achievement is significant because the number of students tested doubled, due to first time testing in grades 3, 5, 6, and 7 (in addition to 4, 8 and 10 grades). For example, 38% of the district's 10th graders taking the math test scored in the advanced category, compared with 25% statewide. Madison third graders taking the math test topped their state peers in the advanced category by 44% to 32%.

Madison students across the seven tested grades average five percentage points higher in the advanced score range than their statewide peers in the reading tests, and are over eight percentage points higher in the math test.

"Madison's high-fliers really fly high," said Superintendent Art Rainwater. "While we continue to work hard to narrow the minority student achievement gap, it's important to note that high achieving students prosper and excel in our community's schools."

Madison has experienced an increase of students with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) skills. LEP students are required to take an alternative assessment. Thus, the difference between Madison and Wisconsin is accounted for by the higher percentage of Madison students taking an alternate assessment.

For example, in Madison, 6 percent of the district's 4th graders took an alternative assessment for reading and math due to a lack of language proficiency, compared with only one percent statewide.

This difference in testing means it is impossible for the students taking the alternative assessment (6% of Madison's 4th graders) to score in the proficient or advanced range. When reporting results, the Department of Public Instruction includes all students tested, even though state and federal law require an alternative test.

This is the first year of significant changes to the WKCE, aside from the new grades tested. The test used to compare a student's results with other students. The new, criterion-referenced test compares an individual student's performance to a specific set of criteria. Students in the 4th, 8th and 10th grades were also assessed in language arts, science and social studies, in addition to math and science. Students are determined to have minimal, basic, proficient or advanced competency.

The numbers reported in this release for both Madison and Wisconsin are based on students tested who were in their school districts for at least one full academic year.