Mississippi Curriculum Test and Subject Area Test Program scoresat Wesson Attendance Center topped nearly all state averages infigures released by the state Department of Education lastweek.

“We feel very good about the scores,” said Principal Billy O.Britt, “but there are still some areas we would like to see moreimprovement.”

Wesson did not deviate from a state MCT trend showing languageas the weakest subject in most Mississippi elementary and juniorhigh schools.

The MCT scores every student in grades two through eight inreading, language arts and mathematics skills. The scores are alsoused as part of a formula to tabulate Adequate Yearly Progress, akey element in the No Child Left Behind Act.

Language scores at Wesson that topped state averages did so byfar less of a percentage than those in reading and math. Fourth andfifth grade language students trailed the state in average meanscores, although not significantly.

Britt said he could not identify a particular cause for thelanguage trend, but suspected it was a lack of interest amongstudents.

“It’s not always a favorite subject, so some students may notput their all into it,” he said.

However, Britt said, school scores improved in all areas of the2005-2006 MCT from 2005-2006 scores, except in fifth and seventhgrade reading.

At the high school level, English II scores slipped slightly,but remained well above the state average.

“We’re not pleased with that,” Britt said. “We’ll be looking atthat.”

Scores in Algebra I, Biology I and U.S. History continued toclimb, he said.

Despite the school’s testing success by grade, Britt said theyapproach the numbers differently within the school. For instance,rather than comparing the present fifth grade against previousfifth grades, Wesson gauges the present fifth grade scores againstlast year’s fourth grade scores to get a clearer picture ofstudents’ improvement.

“That’s what you want,” Britt said. “That shows you whetheryou’re growing and improving by comparing the students. When you’recomparing same grades, you’re comparing one group of kids toanother.”

The school’s testing results were an achievement that could becredited to many, he said.

“We put a lot of emphasis on this,” Britt said. “Our studentstook it seriously, our teachers worked hard and our parents reallysupported us. It’s a team effort.”

It was a team effort that Britt hopes will really pay off whenthe state Department of Education releases school accreditationlevels Aug. 31.

“We’re optimistic and excited because we believe we’ll reach alevel 5 for the first time,” Britt said.

Under the No Child Left Behind Act, all students are alsoevaluated and placed within four major categories that determinetheir proficiency – minimal, basic, proficient and advanced. Alldistricts much move their students from the minimal and basiccategories to the proficient or advanced levels by 2014 or facefederal sanctions.

Mississippi schools are rated on a scale of one to five based ontheir success at moving students from minimal to advanced.