After the first round of the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills tests, Fairfield third, fifth and eighth grade students improved performances across the board from last year and bested the state average in two grades.

The first TAKS round was the reading portion of the state mandated exam— -mathematics is being tested this week.

"We are very pleased with the third and eighth grades. Both are at the exemplary level and above the state average," Fairfield Independent School District deputy superintendent Sheila Dove says.

Student performance on the annual tests determines the academic ratings of campuses and school districts. Those ratings are "academically unacceptable," "academically acceptable," "recognized" and "exemplary."

Last year, FISD and Fairfield high school were rated "academically acceptable," the elementary school was "recognized" and the junior high was "academically unacceptable."

Mrs. Dove reports that efforts to ensure Fairfield junior high students improve the school ratings have been underway all year, with special emphasis on raising performance on the science portion of the TAKS which will be administered this month.

"They are working hard and the science teachers have bent over backwards to improve," the deputy superintendent says.

Fairfield third grade students this year posted a 91 percent passing mark on the TAKS reading exam, topping the 93 percent state average and beating the 85 percent mark from last year.

Out of a class of 138 students, 118 passed the exam, 12 failed and several were administered variations of the test designed to accomodate English proficiency and learning disabilities.

The third grade had 42 students, 35 percent of the class, turn in commended work on the reading tests, a dozen of them with perfect scores.

Students in third, fifth and eighth grades who do not pass the TAKS are not allowed to advance to the next grade without approval from a grade placement committee, but have two more opportuni- ties this year to pass.

Mrs. Dove says that students who do not pass the first administration of TAKS tests receive tutoring during school to get them up to par.

In the eighth grade, 96 percent of Fairfield students met the test standard, compared to 93 percent throughout the state.

In the 127-member class, 121 passed the reading test, of which 67 students had commended performances. There were 14 students with perfect scores.

"We are pleased because there are only six students to tutor," Mrs. Dove says.

Last year only 88 percent of the Fairfield eighth grade class met the TAKS reading standard, and 10 failed.

In the fifth grade, 77 percent of Fairfield students met the test standard, compared to 83 percent for the grade level in Texas.

Of 143 students taking the fifth grade reading test, 103 passed and 30 failed. From the passing group, 35 students are commended, of which six posted perfect scores.

The English and reading portions of TAKS were administered to all grade levels the first week in March, and state mandated testing is due to be wrapped up the last week in April.

The FISD deputy superintendent reports that all senior students have passed the exit-level tests in science, social studies, and that a half dozen students are awaiting results of their English tests. The exit-level examinations are administered to junior students, with three opportunities provided to pass.

Overall results from TAKS testing are used by Texas Education Agency to rate schools, and any found to be "academically unacceptable" could wind up facing administrative sanctions.

If students fail to meet test standards in a subject area for two consecutive years, parents will be allowed to move their children to other school districts.

The TEA issues new school ratings every year.