For example,

in eighth-grade mathematics, Fayette's score was 70 percent, indicating

that the county's students scored better than 70 percent of students nationwide

in the same grade level whom took the test at the same time.

In comparison,

the state scored 42 percent, a difference of 28 points.

Assistant superintendent

of curriculum Stuart Bennett said the scores reflect the hard work of

both teachers and students.

"Overall

we had a strong showing. Our trend in the last several years has been

that we have scored well above the national norm on standardized testing,"

said Bennett. "While we scored well overall, the test has helped

us to identify some areas where we need to improve. We are in the process

of putting plans together for individual schools and grade levels that

hopefully will help raise scores next year."

Since this

was the first year that the Stanford 9 was administered to Fayette's students,

there are no past scores to compare student performance. Prior to the

Stanford 9, students were taking the ITBS (Iowa Test of Basic Skills).

Because the norm group for the Stanford 9 is newer than the last ITBS

administered, and due to the fact that there are some differences in content

between the two tests, direct comparison between the two cannot be made.

The testing

company that administers the Stanford 9 has completed a study equating

the Stanford 9 test scores to the 2000 ITBS. At the time of this report,

the Fayette County School System had not received the comparison chart.