Where all the kids are above average

When it comes to raising children, the people 0f Southwest Nebraska have a lot in common with the citizens of Lake Wobegon. We say that because of the newly released state report card, which shows the overwhelming majority of this region's 4th, 8th and 11th graders performed well on assessment tests for reading, math and writing.

In fact, in several categories, area students posted 100 percent proficiency ratings. Among those earning 100 percent ratings were Cambridge fourth graders in both math and writing, Arapahoe and Cambridge eighth graders in writing and Southern Valley 11th graders in writing.

Scores such as those -- and ratings from 80 percent to the high 90s in most other categories -- certainly puts this area's young people on a par with the children of Lake Wobegon, whom Garrison Keillor identifies on his Prairie Home Companion broadcasts as "all above average."

Certainly, this region does have outstanding children and good schools. We know that through the youngsters' many accomplishments and their success in lifetime pursuits. Yet, it is impossible to make comparisons between different districts because of the way schools in Nebraska do their testing.

In this state, there are not standardized state tests. Instead, schools develop assessments to measure the coursework covered in local classes. Therefore, comparisons between districts have little -- if any -- validity. Schools in Chase County and Imperial, for example, may have entirely different ways of measuring student proficiency.

Still, the director of curriculum and instruction for McCook schools, Cindy Huff, believes the annual testing program is valuable. By keeping testing standards consistent, she said local districts can measure progress of students from one year to the next. And, while state tests are not standardized, Nebraska education officials note that "the percentage of 4th, 8th and 11th grade students meeting (or exceeding) Nebraska reading standards has increased 10 percent since 2000-01."

Huff also points out that students in McCook do well on national tests, as shown by ACT test scores for seniors, which were above the national average, and the STARS assessment, for which McCook earned an exemplary rating.

Our students are outstanding and it's hard not to brag. But we need to keep in mind that assessment tests given by one school may differ considerably from those given in another district.

Our kids are above average. For now, we may have to leave it at that.