By PAT NEWMAN
Staff Writer

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 by at least nine points in science, eight points 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.

A 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.