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An Assessment of Math Proficiency Among High School Students in Northwest Florida
Journal article   Peer reviewed

An Assessment of Math Proficiency Among High School Students in Northwest Florida

Josaphat A Uvah and Kuiyuan Li
US-China Education Review. B, Vol.7(1), pp.1-14
01/28/2017

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Abstract

In this study, we assess the group performance of 970 high school students in mathematics. We use data from the American mathematics competitions (AMC) tests administered at the University of West Florida (UWF) for five consecutive years, 2007-2011, to assess the proficiency level of the participants as a group. The main aim is to identify areas of strength, and more importantly, weaknesses in high school mathematics for the group. A secondary objective is to assess the college readiness of the students in the area of mathematics. Aside from identifying some factors known to affect students' performance at the high school levels, we offer a range of suggestions on individual and institutional remedies that could be implemented in the 1 lth and 12th grades when most students take the standardized tests in preparation for entry into institutions of higher education. Other recommendations may help students with college readiness in mathematics. Although the students were drawn from two counties--Escambia and Santa Rosa, the results of the study may be useful throughout Northwest Florida and beyond. The results of the study could also be used to guide grade teachers to place emphases on some topics in the mathematics high school curriculum.

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