Memphis, TN - Last Thursday, Newcomer International Center’s Principal Gabriela Toro presented during her State of the School the I-Ready Diagnostic results that she says show the impressive progress that the students have made so far. The attendance rate also rose from 88.9% last year (2023-2024) to 93.1% this school year (2024-2025).

Below you can see the I-Reading results provided by NIC:

I-Ready (Reading) D1

• 41 students tested.
• 3/41 (7%) – Did not test/enrolled.
• 22/41 (53.6%) – K
• 11/41 (26.8%) – 1st grade
• 3/41 (7%) – 2nd grade
• 4/41 (10%) – 3rd grade
• 1/41 (2%) – 4th grade
• Diagnostic is given in English.
• Majority (over 50%) are brand new (less than 3 months) in the U.S.A.
• Over 50% of these students are struggling readers.
• Over 50% of these students only completed up to the 4th grade.

I-Ready (Reading) D2

• 44 students tested.
• 4/44 (9%) – pending testing.
• 24/40 (60%) – dropped/remained at grade level.
• 9/24 (37%) – dropped one grade level.
• 14/40 (35%) – grew/remained at grade level.
• 11/14 (78.5%) – grew (in points) but remained at grade level.
• 3/11 (27%) – grew one grade level. 
• Diagnostic is given in English.
• Over 50% – struggling readers. 
• I-Ready plan – Weekly focus on ELA/Math. 
• Teaching/Attending school since August/September.

I-Ready (Math) D1

• 41 students tested. 
• 2/41 (4.8%) – Did not test/enrolled. 
• 6/41 (14.6%) – K
• 5/41 (12%) – 1st grade
• 9/41 (22%) – 2nd grade
• 14/41 (34%) – 3rd grade
• 5/41 (12%) – 4th grade
• 1/41 (2%) – 5th grade
• 1/41 (2%) – 6th grade
• 1/41 (2%) – 8th grade
• Diagnostic is given in English/native language (only Spanish).
• Majority (over 50%) are brand new (less than 3 months) in the U.S.A.
• Over 50% – only completed up to the 4th grade.

I-Ready (Math) D2 

• 44 students tested.
• 8/44 (18%) - pending testing.
• 15/44 (34%) – dropped/remained at grade level.
• 10/15 (66%) – remained in the same grade level.
• 4/15 (26%) – dropped 1 grade level.
• 1/4 (25%) – dropped three grade levels.
• 20/44 (45%) – grew/remained at grade level.
• 13/20 (65%) – grew one grade level.
• 4/13 (31%) – grew in points but remained at grade level.
• 3/13 (23%) – grew two grade levels.
• Diagnostic is given in English or native language (Spanish).
• I-Ready plan- Weekly focus on ELA/Math.
• Teaching/Attending school since August/September.

The I-Ready Diagnostic is an adaptive assessment that shows which skills students have mastered and which skills need to be mastered.

“The district’s I-Ready Diagnostic Assessments in Reading and Math have been instrumental in driving the Data-Driven Instruction Cycle at Newcomer International Center. By prioritizing assessment, analysis, and targeted action, we’ve customized learning paths across Academic Advisory, Algebra I, Geometry, and ESL courses. Student progress is actively monitored and prominently displayed, fostering motivation and accountability. Watching our students' faces light up as they celebrate their growth has been nothing short of inspiring!” said Principal Toro.

The Newcomer International Center (NIC) is a MSCS’ school, under the Division of Accelerated Education, that offers an intensive educational model that is specifically designed to help new international students acculturate while benefiting from instruction focused on English language development.

Created in 2017, the Newcomer International Center program is an excellent option for international students between the ages of 14 and 17 (students who are 18 years old can only be accepted if they have just turned 18 or will turn 18 in less than four months) and who have never been to school or have an interruption in their education. As such, the program has several teachers certified in ESL (English as a Second Language).

At Newcomer International Center, students can not only learn English while taking other regular classes, such as math, science, and social studies, for example, but they also have the opportunity to leave better prepared to later finish high school (middle school, high school) in the school that corresponds to them, depending on where they live. “NIC’s goal is to help students gain the language and literacy skills they will need to be successful when they transition to a traditional high school setting,” said Principal Toro. “Our mission is to create a rigorous and engaging academic program while fostering a nurturing environment. We offer specialized coursework so that our students can communicate effectively in English. We develop student strengths, teach them how to overcome challenges, and how to be responsible citizens.”

As stated by Principal Toro, all NIC students enter in the ninth grade, study for two years – unless they are ready after the first year – and graduate with 14 credits. 

Located in the Wooddale High School building, the Newcomer International Center’s address is 5151 Scottsdale Ave., Memphis, TN 38118. For more information about the Newcomer International Center, call (901) 416-6055.

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