The

scores are in, and Fayette County school students

rank an average of 15 percentile points higher

than other state students on the Iowa Test of

Basic Skills (ITBS). The standardized tests were

administered to third, fifth and eighth graders

this spring.

Fayette

third and fifth graders dropped one or two points

in mathematics, science and social studies but

held even with last year's scores in reading.

Fayette middle school students tested one or two

points higher than last year in reading and math,

held their own in social studies but were down

one point in science skills.

Across

the board, Braelinn Elementary School in southern

Peachtree City shines most brightly among the

third and fifth grade students taking the tests.

For example, Braelinn third graders in reading

skills scored 13 points above the Fayette average

and 28 points higher than the state average.

Braelinn

fifth graders jumped 10 points in reading over

last year's score to a system high of 81.

Bringing

up the rear in overall test scores is North

Fayette Elementary. Third graders there dropped

nine points in math, six points in science, two

points in reading and one point in social

studies.

One

the other hand, while still trailing the other

Fayette schools, North Fayette fifth graders

showed an eight-point increase in reading, seven

points in science, three points in social studies

and one point in math.

Among

middle schools, Rising Starr was the clear leader

in all categories, leading other middle schools

in reading, six points in math, and four points

in social studies.

Flat

Rock Middle trailed the other four middle schools

in all four areas tested but was still 13 to 14

points higher than the state average.

closer look shows that Fayette third and fifth

graders dropped one point in math and science

while holding steady with last year's scores in

reading. Third graders dropped two points in

social studies, while fifth graders stayed

steady, matching last year's scores.

Eighth

graders, on the other hand, improved their

reading skills by one point but boosted math

scores by three points. Their science score

dropped one point from last year.

With

50 percent representing the national average,

Fayette County students fluctuated slightly in

their scores from last year, maintaining,

gaining, or dropping a couple points.

"This

is pretty normal for a school system like

ours," Dr. John DeCotis, Fayette County

school superintendent, said. "We strive to

improve," he added. "We will look at

the fluctuations and determine how they occurred.

For instance, if fifth grade went down in

science, but were up in third grade, then we will

look at all those figures."

DeCotis

suggested that parents should look at their

child's scores and see if they showed progress

compared to the national average.

System

wide, third grade students maintained a 69

percentile in reading, a 79 percentile in math,

(one-point drop), a 73 percentile in science, (a

one-point drop) and a 69 percentile in social

studies (a two-point drop). Fifth grade students

maintained a 65 percentile in reading, scored a

76 percentile (one-point drop) in math, 74

percentile in science (one-point drop) and

maintained a 69 percentile in social studies.

Eighth grade students increased their reading

percentile one point to reach 68, upped their

math percentile three points to 73, dropped one

point in science to 73, and maintained a 73

percentile in social studies.

Statewide,

ITBS scores show Georgia students continuing to

improve "since 1995, [in] every test score

on the ITBS," said State School

Superintendent Linda Schrenko. "We have not

done enough, but the scores are higher and they

continue to go up." State scores in the four

subject areas have increased one or two points.

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