ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —The PARCC test opt out numbers are starting to come in, and nearly 40 percent of Albuquerque Public Schools could receive a lower grade because students refused to participate.
The controversial standardized test was given to New Mexico students, grades three to 11, for the first time this year. It measures reading, writing and math skills using federally mandated Common Core standards.
Overall, about 5 percent of APS students opted out of the exam.
Some schools with high opt out numbers include Chamisa Elementary (36 percent opt out), Jefferson Middle (22 percent opt out), Freedom High (11 percent opt out) and Eldorado High (9 percent opt out).
Documents obtained by Action 7 News show 52 APS schools could see their state grade drop one full letter. The Public Education Department requires the drop for schools that have fewer than 95 percent of students take the exam.
At Washington Middle School, more than 5 percent of its students opted out. If the school got a C this time around, that grade would drop to a D.
The state grades show a school's performance using factors like test scores and graduation rates. Low performing schools can get more money from the state to pay for programs to boost those grades.