Standardized testing scores have been released for Dartmouth Public Schools, and while progress at the town’s five tested schools seems to have slowed, school officials are happy with the results.

“We have some drops in certain areas, but we feel our results are pretty positive,” said Superintendent Dr. Bonny Gifford via phone.

Gifford explained that students take one of two different standardized tests: 10th-grade students take MCAS; grades 3-8 take PARCC testing.

Gifford’s administration uses the standardized testing to measure student proficiency in English-language arts, math, and science. Only fifth, eighth, and 10th graders are tested in science. The goal is to get 100-percent of students to achieve either proficient or advanced scoring in all subjects.

However, wavering state methodology makes it difficult for Gifford’s team to make sense of results. Testing has varied for the past three years, explained Gifford.

In 2014, all students took MCAS. In 2015, elementary and middle school students took paper-based PARCC testing, while 10th graders took MCAS. In 2016, Quinn Elementary took a computer-based version of the PARCC testing, while other elementary schools received a paper test, and high schoolers still received MCAS.

“We’re struggling with how to organize our data,” said Assistant Superintendent Michelle Roy. “We like to see trends over time.”

A school is ranked by its efficiency in narrowing the proficiency gap using a point system; a school will receive 100 points for a student that achieves advanced levels, and 0 points for students who are lowest performing. The scores are then averaged out. Schools aim to achieve 75 points or higher.

Overall, none of the schools reached their 75-point target. DeMello Elementary fell short at 71 points. Potter Elementary received 54 points; and Quinn Elementary received 56. Dartmouth Middle received 67 points, and the high school received 72.

However, schools still maintain a high percentile relative to other schools of the same type: DeMello Elementary ranked in the 80th percentile; Potter Elementary ranked 46th; and Quinn ranked 53rd. Dartmouth Middle achieved the 71st percentile; Dartmouth High achieved the 45th percentile.

Gifford is focused on specific wins for now. “We’ve continued to score above our target for students with disabilities,” she said. She also noted that high school students currently hold a 98.8-percent proficiency in English and a 92.8-percent proficiency in math; the goal is 100 percent.

The state is looking to unify testing methods by enacting a PARCC-MCAS hybrid dubbed MCAS 2.0. Gifford said standardized testing does hold value, but ultimately, it is only one piece of data.

“[Standardized testing] is a two-edged sword. It pushed us to be better professionals. It made us look at where we may have gaps,” she said. “I do hope for an assessment that really helps us cut down on the time,” she said, explaining that preparing and executing tests are time consuming.

Gifford is sure that as the state perfects standardized testing, and her three-year strategic plan rolls out, students will perform better. Her curriculum alignment initiative allows teachers to communicate across grade level to better prep students.

“What that initiative does is bring the teachers together to talk about what we really want for our students. What are our objectives?” Gifford said. She also mentioned her focus on social and emotional learning, stressing that students cannot give 100-percent to their academics unless they are mentally, emotionally, and physically sound.

“We assess it every day when we walk through our schools and see the kind of teaching that is happening. There is some wonderful teaching going on,” said Gifford. She said teaching should be like coaching, where instruction is given regularly along the way instead of deciding pass-or-fail at the end of the year.

For the full report, visit http://profiles.doe.mass.edu.