Neligh-Oakdale Celebrates First-Ever Perfect Scores On NeSA

Until this year, Neligh-Oakdale had never scored a 100 percent on a NeSA test. Now, the Warriors have three.

Neligh-Oakdale celebrated success Thursday morning with a school-wide assembly. Neligh-Oakdale principal George Loofe said he was excited by the test scores and attributed the success to a combination of the Reading Mastery program, teachers’ efforts and adding 20 minutes to the school day, among other things.

While several students in the past have scored a perfect score on individual tests, this is the first time entire classes had 100 percent of its students meeting or exceeding the benchmark for the tests. Freshman Hailey Bixler actually had a perfect test in three categories - reading, math and science. Her twin sister, Emma, had perfect scores in math and writing.

The 100 percents were in reading for Grades 3 & 4. Writing scores have not been released yet. Neligh’s reading is at 92 percent school wide - the highest it’s ever been.

Individual students with perfect scores were Aubrey Parker (math), Kaleb Mozer (reading), Meredith Wiseman (reading), Emma Bixler (math and writing) and Hailey Bixler (math, science, writing), Kinsley Klabenes (writing).

Loofe said test scores have increased dramatically since 2009-10. Grade 3 reading has improved from 77 percent meeting benchmark to 100 percent, and Grade 4 from 76 percent to 100 percent. The district average went from 73 percent to 92 percent.

In Math, Grade 5 shows improvement from 55 percent to 90 percent. The district went from 66 percent to 79 percent.

Science tests started in 2011-12 and the Grade 5 improvement is from 68 percent to 76 percent, Grade 8 from 71 percent to 76 percent and Grade 11 from 77 percent to 100 percent. As a district, the average has grown from 72 percent to 84 percent.