Private schools test high at CMI

Incoming students register at the College of the Marshall Islands in this Journal file photo. Private school students have shown the highest test scores on CMI placement tests. Photo: Hilary Hosia.
Incoming students register at the College of the Marshall Islands in this Journal file photo. Private school students have shown the highest test scores on CMI placement tests. Photo: Hilary Hosia.

Majuro-based private schools have scored the highest marks on CMI’s annual placement tests, according to data contained in the college’s Fact Book 2015.

In last year’s English placement test, Assumption High School’s 16 students taking the test had the highest percentage — 31 percent — achieving credit level test stores. Majuro Coop School was at 27 percent for credit level for its 22 students; Majuro Baptist Academy (18 students) and Seventh Day Adventist (nine students) both saw 22 percent make credit level, while Rita Christian had 19 percent of its 16 students reach credit level scores on the CMI test.

Coop School is the most consistent over the past three years with 18, 33 and 27 percent of its students achieving credit level scores.

In 2012-13 school year, only two percent of RMI private and public school students managed credit level test results in English. That number increased modestly to five percent last school year.

The highest percentage of credit level scores for a public school last year was four percent for Laura High School seniors, meaning two of 50 achieved credit level scores. But this represented a significant improvement as the previous year, none of its students achieved credit level scores.

The percentage of students testing at development levels three and two — the highest levels below credit — has improved. For example, in 2012-13 school year, 29 percent tested in levels three and two, while 50 percent scored in the lowest, level one, section. In 2014-15, the percentage in levels three and two improved to 37 percent, while level one reduced to 36 percent.