What Does Urban Student Achievement Really Mean beyond Test Scores?

Abstract

This paper explores important thinking on urban student achievement, and its meaning beyond standardized test scores. Urban school districts often claim victory in the struggle to improve student performance, and frequently tout increased test scores as evidence. However, without corresponding evidence of improvements in students' learner characteristics, e.g., attitudes, behaviors, and skills, the citation of test scores may have little real meaning. This paper seeks to clarify the specific urban learner characteristics that need to be addressed before increased test scores can be considered reliable measures of urban student achievement.