Fayette

County's third graders showed a slight to

significant decrease in their Iowa Test of Basic

Skills this year with point differences as small

as one and as great as 14.

Even

the number one school, Braelinn, was down a

couple of points in reading and math from the

previous year, down three points in social

studies and maintaining the same level in

science. Other schools experiencing a dip were

North Fayette, Oak Grove, Peachtree City, Burch

and Tyrone.

Dr.

John DeCotis, Fayette County school

superintendent, said there were a lot of factors

which could have affected this year's scores. He

said the overall district results were comparable

to last years', and a one-year dip was not cause

for concern. "We look at long term

trends," DeCotis said. Schools with

consistently lower scores, however, will be

receiving help, he added.

"Juliette

Babb is a school improvement person."

Schools needing improvement will be working with

a team composed of district, state and regional

representatives to help upgrade test scores,

according to DeCotis. "We will work with

them intensely," he added.

Schools

posting improved standings were Brooks, East

Fayette, Fayetteville, Peeples and Spring Hill

with gains as much as 7 percent. Test results

were mixed at Huddleston, which experienced a

slight dip in reading and science scores, but an

increase in math and social studies. Kedron had a

one point dip in reading and math, maintained the

same percentile score in science, and lost three

points in social studies.

County-wide

standings were still at least 13 points greater

than the state averages.

Fifth

grade classes, particularly at Huddleston and

Kedron, made gains in all areas, while other

schools posted mixed results, slight increases or

decreases, between one and six points.

The

results were similar in the middle schools where

eighth graders generally gained or lost an

average of two points.

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