Archdiocese of Milwaukee Catholic schools students have completed this year’s testing under the Wisconsin Student Assessment System Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Examinations (WKCE). The WKCE is administered to students throughout the state in grades 4, 8, and 10. Students in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee are required to take this assessment in 8th grade. The assessment is optional for students in 4th and 10th grade.

The WKCE results are reported by the proficiency categories of Advanced, Proficient, Basic, and Minimal performance. These categories were established by determining what students must know and be able to do at the beginning of grades 4, 8, and 10.

Each academic content area is treated as a separate test. Separate proficiency results are reported for reading, language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies.

Each content area identifies the percent of students scoring at each of the proficiency levels. In addition, the combined totals for minimal/basic and proficient/advanced are listed.

"I am very pleased with the overall results of the 2004 WKCE for eighth graders in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee," said David Prothero, Archdiocese of Milwaukee Superintendent of Schools. "Parents are encouraged to look closely at their child’s individual results, and direct questions to their school principal for clarification and meaning.

"Our schools remain committed to utilizing the results of the annual WKCE, along with other measures of achievement, to provide valuable information about progress of individual students and groups of students, as well as the effectiveness of our educational programs," Prothero said.

The data listed below represents the results of the WKCE for 8th grade students in the 122 elementary schools in the ten-county Archdiocese of Milwaukee.

READING: Percentage of students achieving at each level:

Advanced – 58.2%
Proficient – 36.0%
Basic – 3.6%
Minimal – 2.2%

Combined Proficient and Advanced – 94.2%
Combined Minimal and Basic – 5.8%

LANGUAGE ARTS: Percentage of students achieving at each level:

Advanced – 39.5%
Proficient – 42.0%
Basic – 13.6%
Minimal – 4.9%

Combined Proficient and Advanced – 81.5%
Combined Minimal and Basic – 18.5%

MATHEMATICS: Percentage of students achieving at each level:

Advanced – 34.4%
Proficient – 49.3%
Basic – 10.4%
Minimal – 5.9%

Combined Proficient and Advanced – 83.7%
Combined Minimal and Basic – 16.3%

SCIENCE: Percentage of students achieving at each level:

Advanced – 40.0%
Proficient – 45.0%
Basic – 10.4%
Minimal – 4.6%

Combined Proficient and Advanced – 85.0%
Combined Minimal and Basic – 15.0%

SOCIAL STUDIES: Percentage of students achieving at each level:

Advanced – 61.6%
Proficient – 30.4%
Basic – 6.5%
Minimal – 1.5%

Combined Proficient and Advanced – 92.0%
Combined Minimal and Basic – 8.0%

Additional questions may be directed to Prothero at (414) 769-3357 or protherod@archmil.org