By PAT NEWMAN
pnewman@thecitizennews.com

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.