PERU – Every tested grade in all three SAD 21 schools met adequate yearly progress as measured by the federal No Child Left Behind Act, but principals and school board members want higher achievement, particularly in the area of mathematics.

The three schools’ three principals reported the results of standardized testing at Monday’s board meeting.

While scores on the Maine Educational Assessment tests, used for grades three through eight, and the Scholastic Aptitude Tests, used to gauge progress for 11th-graders, were virtually all within a point or two of the state averages, board members were concerned by a trend showing a decline in some mathematics scores, primarily in the middle school.

“Is this an alarming problem?” board Chairman Ben McCollister asked Dirigo Middle School Principal Celena Ranger.

Board member Barbara Chow also asked where the gap might be between the elementary grades and middle school grades.

Ranger said any sixth- through eighth-grader who needs extra help can get it in study halls, after school, or in summer remedial programs. She and other administrators are also meeting with all teacher teams to work out ways to improve instruction.

The MEA tests are but one tool that measures pupil achievement, she added. Another standardized test as well as classroom work and tests also gauge the progress of students.

“This is a nice piece of information, but it’s not all that is going on,” said board member Bruce Ross.

Ranger said among the math weaknesses were those in problem solving. She said teachers are now giving pre- and post-tests for lessons.

She said, too, that the middle school received 40 new students this year. The total middle school enrollment, which is grades six, seven and eight, stands at about 230.

“Transient students usually score lower because they don’t have the consistency,” Superintendent Tom Ward said.

Ward also asked administrators to return to the board at a later time with additional information on student progress, such as the results of classroom work and other standardized tests.

He reminded the board that each class is, however, making the goals set by No Child Left Behind.