'MSBSD continues to lead': Student assessment scores indicate Mat-Su performing above state standards

The 2024 results from the Alaska System of Academic Readiness (AK STAR) assessments and the Alaska Science Assessment were released on August 30 and are now accessible online.

The Alaska System of Academic Readiness test, commonly referred to as the AK STAR assessment, evaluates student knowledge of grade-level standards in English language arts and mathematics for third through ninth graders and grade-level standards for science in fifth, eighth and 10th grades.

In a press release, statewide assessment data released indicated that most students are not proficient in core subjects. Student’s scores fall into four achievement levels: advanced, proficient, approaching proficient, and needs support. This year 31.8% of students scored at or above a proficient level in English Language Arts (ELA), 32.5 percent in mathematics, and 36.9 percent in science.

In the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District (MSBSD), students scored above those numbers, with 38.97% at or above proficiency in ELA, 40.17% in math, and 46.93% in science.

Across the state, 5th graders showed the highest performance, with 37.4% meeting or exceeding proficiency in English Language Arts (ELA), up from 35.5% in the previous year. For mathematics, 37.5% were proficient, and 47.5% achieved proficiency in science, a significant increase from 42.2% last year.

In the MSBSD, the numbers were much more positive, with 5th graders at 48.9% meeting or exceeding proficiency in ELA and 49.5% in math. For the same group in science, 61.7% were at the Advanced/Proficient category.

"The 2024 AK STAR results confirm that MSBSD continues to lead the Big 5 in student achievement. While many districts saw declines, we improved in ELA and remained steady in math. This is a strong indicator that our efforts are yielding positive results,” said Dr. Randy Trani, MSBSD Superintendent.

Meanwhile statewide, upper grades, particularly 8th and 9th, continue to require improvement. Efforts are underway to enhance reading skills, support school improvement, and offer career and technical education pathways to elevate achievement across all grades.

A total of 62,052 students took part in these assessments. AK STAR evaluates student knowledge of grade level standards in English language arts and mathematics for grades 3-9 while the Alaska Science Assessment evaluates student knowledge of grade level standards in grades 5, 8, and 10. Both assessments, introduced in 2022, provide crucial data on school performance, guiding improvement efforts, and supporting student learning.

“State assessments play a role in measuring how well our students meet the Alaska standards — standards shaped by Alaskan educators. By accepting the results without defense, we commit to using these data for improvement. Alaska is not merely focused on the outcomes themselves, rather our goal is to build the capacity in our students’ foundational knowledge and ability for their future in work and life,” said Alaska Education Commissioner Dr. Deena Bishop.

The scores are similar to last year’s results overall, even though the state lowered its standards for the assessment in January. Education Commissioner Deena Bishop said then that Alaska’s standards are still in the top third in the nation.

During the joint MSBSD/Matanuska-Susitna Borough (MSB) Assembly meeting on September 11, Dr. Trani reported that the district has moved 4% of the students from the Needing Support/Approaching Proficient category upwards in the ELA category, while pointing out that statewide, the results were not as positive.

“We did better on the top end and the bottom end.” He said the same results we seen in math, moving students upwards into a more proficient category.

Dr. Trani told members that the assessments changed several years ago, that this year’s AK STAR cut scores were different than previously administered tests, with the AK STAR being adopted in 2023, and the results set a new baseline for evaluating student performance in the coming years.

“The only way to compare yourself to other districts over time is to compare how you’re doing relative to the state average that given year. Are you above the state average or below the state average?”

The results from the previous AK Star assessments took nearly a year to receive, something Dr. Trani lamented on in April, when students were preparing to take the statewide tests which were due earlier in the school year, frustrating him that the data is nearly useless now, especially as students are currently taking this year’s AK STAR assessment.

“It’s history now, when you want to have the data in hand in time to change something. It’s impossible to change now that the year’s nearly done,” he said in April.

“I ask all Alaskans to use student learning results for continuous improvement and educational excellence — no matter where you learn,” added Commissioner Bishop.

For more information, resources are available on the AK STAR and Alaska Science Assessment webpages. The 2024 assessment results are available on DEED’s Assessment Results webpage.