| third
grade reading scores
The highest third grade reading scores are
in the Sacramento Region, and the lowest
are in the San Joaquin Valley.
Definition:
This indicator measures
the number of third graders testing at or
above the 50th national percentile ranking
in reading in 2001-2002 on the Stanford
Achievement Test (SAT-9), a nationally standardized
test used in California’s Standardized
Testing and Reporting (STAR) program. Begun
in 1998, the STAR program requires that
nearly all students in grades 2 through
11 be tested annually. These test scores
include English Language Learners (ELL)
who are designated by the schools as not
fluent in English.
Why is it important?
By the end of the
third grade, children should show evidence
of reading comprehension and be able to
read unfamiliar words through various strategies
such as roots, prefixes, and suffixes.
Third grade reading scores
are highly correlated with later academic
success. Early intervention is critical
for children who are struggling with reading.
Test scores are also highly
correlated with socioeconomic status. The
relatively low reading scores in the Valley
reflect the high poverty rates, as well
as the large number of immigrant students
whose native language is not English.
How are we doing?
Overall, the Valley
has lower third grade reading scores than
the state; only 45% of third graders scored
above the fiftieth percentile, compared
to 47% statewide. The San Joaquin Valley
exhibited the lowest scores. The Sacramento
Region and the North Valley both scored
better than the statewide average.
In the eight counties
in the San Joaquin Valley, only in Stanislaus
County did test scores reach the Valley’s
regional average of 45%. By contrast, 5
of the 6 counties in the Sacramento Region
exhibited scores of 45% or higher (all but
Yuba County at 44%), as did 4 of 5 counties
in the North Valley (all but Colusa County
at 37%).
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