By Jolene Farley
Scores released by the Minnesota Department of Children, Families and Learning on Hills-Beaver Creek and Hills Christian School students shows 91.3 percent of students passing the reading portion of the Basic Standards Test, while 87 percent passed the math portion of the test.
"I was pleased with the results," said Dan Ellingson, district testing coordinator.
"I can't recall what the results were last year, but I know they were very close."
Teachers emphasize the number of students passing the test and how close students who didn't pass were to passing rather than percentages, according to Ellingson. With only 23 students taking the tests in February, percentages can be misleading.
"I don't compare our school to other schools," he said. "We are more worried about our students."
This year, the Minnesota Department of Children, Families and Learning reported improved passing rates on the Basic Skills Tests for public schools.
A passing score in the reading and math portions of the test is 600.
Of eighth-graders taking the test for the first time, 80 percent met state passing requirements on the reading test and 74 percent passed the math test, compared with 79 and 72 percent in 2001.
Of 96 Luverne Middle School students who took the test, 91.7 percent scored above 600 in reading, while 81.3 percent scored above 600 in math.
In Adrian, of 54 students who took the test, 90.7 percent scored above 600 in reading while of 53 students tested for math 88.7 percent scored above 600.
The Basic Skills Tests are administered to ensure no student graduates from a Minnesota public high school without a basic competency in reading, mathematics and written composition.
Tests in reading and math are given in the eighth grade, and a written composition test is given in 10th grade.
Hills-Beaver Creek and Hills Christian School students who haven't passed the test will be given another chance to pass in July, according to Ellingson.
To take the test again, students are required to attend a recommended number of study sessions. At the study sessions, teachers will help with reading remediation and administer practice tests.
"It's going to be good for the kids," Ellingson said. "They are not going to be worried about other class work or any co-curricular activities. They are going to be concentrating on this."