Student Testing Results For the Inaugural 5th Grade Class

a. Stanford-9 Testing

The May 2004 Stanford-9 test results indicate that significant academic progress has been made by our inaugural class of 5th graders.

In reading, our class, on average, was at a 4th grade, 4th month level as assessed by the STAR test in September 2003. The Stanford-9 test results in December 2003 indicated that the average reading score increased to a 5th grade, 8th month level. The Stanford-9 test results in May 2004 indicated that the average reading score increased to a 6th grade, 1st month level. To recap the average reading grade level for our 2003-2004 5th grade class:

September 2003 4th grade, 4th month
December 2003 5th grade, 8th month
May 2004 6th grade, 1st month

Though we are happy with the obvious progression upward, we are increasing the amount of time spent in formal reading and writing classes by three and a half hours each week for each class (this in addition to the tutorial classes [remedial and advanced] after school run by our faculty).

In mathematics, our class, on average, was at 4th grade, 8th month level as assessed by the STAR test in September 2003. The Stanford-9 test results in December 2003 indicated that the average mathematics score increased to a 5th grade, 6th month level. The Stanford-9 test results in May 2004 indicated that the average mathematics score increased to a 7th grade, 7th month level. To recap the average mathematics grade level for our 2003-2004 5th grade class:

September 2003 4th grade, 8th month
December 2003 5th grade, 6th month
May 2004 7th Grade, 7th month

We are extremely pleased with our progress in mathematics, and will continue to offer the same hours of mathematics coursework per week (5), in addition to the tutorial mathematics classes (remedial and advanced) after school run by our faculty.

b. Comparative Results on 6th Grade Admissions Test

Our incoming 6th grade applicants were required to take a 75-question entrance exam covering reading, vocabulary, spelling, and mathematics. We decided to administer this test in late May to our 22 enrolled 5th grade students in order to compare their scores with those of the admitted 6th grade applicants. The test was administered, without preparation, to our students under formal testing conditions. The results, again, indicate that we have made significant academic progress with our inaugural class. The 23 newly-admitted 6th graders averaged 47 questions correct, while our currently-enrolled students averaged 55 questions correct. Our current students clearly outscored our new students in every discipline.

Summer 2004 Enrollment

We concluded the 2003-2004 school year with 22 5th graders (13 girls, 9 boys).

We also have concluded the second of our four-week summer programs.

For the new 5th grade, we began the summer with 46 candidates (20 girls, 26 boys).
Among the girls, it is unlikely that we will end up with 15 students in August out of the 18 candidates now remaining.

One of the most heartening things we witnessed this summer is the clear difference in attitude and ability between the students who have been with us for a year and the new 5th grade students this summer. It is amazing what a year of this program can do to kids with previously untapped potential.

To recap our summer 2004 enrollments:

Summer Enrollment
                    Girls          Boys        Total

5th Grade       18             24           42
6th Grade       23             19           42
Totals             41             43           84

Our Faculty

Our new academic teachers, Katrina Spicer and Ben Pullen, and our new AmeriCorps teachers, Tameka Evans and Amanda Spicer, are outstanding compliments to the great people already here. Katrina, who will teach English and social studies to our 5th and 6th grade girls, is a Wellesley College graduate with boundless energy. Ben, who will teach mathematics and science to our 5th and 6th grade boys, has an MBA and is a 21-year veteran of the Air Force (like Ted McNair). Tameka is an honors graduate from the University of Florida who is delaying medical school for a year, while Amanda is a graduate from Boston College with outstanding writing ability. Maritza Stagg, who will teach Spanish to our 5th and 6th grade boys, will join our faculty in August. Mrs. Stagg has a stellar record teaching at Jesuit High School and is returning to Tampa after a five-year absence; we were able to lure her from job offers at Jesuit, St. Mary's, and Academy of the Holy Names.

All of our current teachers, including our AmeriCorps teachers and Belinda Womack, are returning for the 2004-2005 school year. I believe this speaks volumes about the spirit of this place.

Lincoln J. Tamayo
Head of School
Academy Prep Center of Tampa