WINDSOR – Early data released last week to the Bertie County Board of Education revealed improving test scores within the county.

District Transformation Coach Tonya Horton reported that six of the county’s eight schools met Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) after the conclusion of testing for the 2008-09 academic year.

The preliminary scores released to the Bertie school board showed increases in most areas of elementary school testing while there were gains and losses in both the middle and high school areas.

The scores reported for the elementary level was a culmination of all the elementary schools in the county.

The gains began in the third grade where reading scores improved from 31 percent at efficiency to 55 percent. Math scores were even better, rising from 38 percent to 70 percent proficient.

In fourth grade reading, the district improved from 32 percent proficient to 47 percent in reading while going from 51 to 64 percent at standard in math.

The fifth grade scores continue to show improvement within the district’s elementary schools. Reading scores improved from 37 to 48 percent proficient while those at standard in math went from 53 to 73 percent.

The science proficiency level in grade five inched up from 21 percent to 27 percent.

Preliminary scores at the middle school and high school levels were not as good, however.

“As you can see, we have seen improvement at all grades and all levels in the elementary school,” Horton reported to the board.

The preliminary scores for the sixth grade, which include Bertie Middle School and the alternative schools, showed losses in both reading and math. The grade six reading scores fell from 36 percent proficiency to 21 percent for 2008-09. Math scores dropped from 51 percent proficient to 30 percent.

Grade seven scores were also lower with reading scores dropping from 26 percent proficient to 18 percent and math scores falling from 57 percent to 31 percent.

In the eighth grade, reading proficiency dropped from 32 percent a year ago to 19 percent this year, but math proficiency increased slightly from 43 percent to 46 percent.

High school scores were a culmination of the results from Bertie High School, Bertie Early College High School, Bertie STEM and the alternative settings.

Algebra I scores dropped just slightly from 39 percent proficient last year to 37 this year. English I scores also dipped from 54 percent to 48 percent.

In Biology, the scores increased from 63 percent all the way to 73 percent proficient.

Civics and Economics proficiency dropped from 39 percent proficient to 24 percent while U.S. History scores dropped from 35 to 28 percent.

The good news, however, is that of the eight schools in the county, six met AYP, the most that have ever reached that achievement in a single year, according to board members. Last year only two schools met AYP.

“The AYP data shows tremendous improvement in one year,” Horton said. “Once we’re able to break down the data school-by-school you’ll get a better idea.”

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Chip Zullinger echoed those comments.

“Unfortunately, we can’t give you a breakdown by school, but I can tell you that you have a lot of principals and teachers to be proud of because they have done a wonderful job,” Dr. Zullinger said.