By SHARON KILPATRICK

By SHARON KILPATRICK

Rappahannock Newi Staff Writer

The scores of Rappahannock’s students on standardized tests are generally higher this year than last year for first, fourth and eighth graders and generally lower for 11th graders.

Superintendent David Gangel released the results of standardized tests at last week’s School Board meeting.

Reading scores are lower for this year’s first graders with reading vocabulary scores dropping from 54 to 51 percent and reading comprehension scores dropping from 47 to 45 percent. However, scores for language are up from 58 to 61 percent; for study skills scores increased from 55 to 56 percent, and for math scores increased from 52 to 57 percent.

For this year’s fourth graders compared to last year’s, the score for language dropped from 63 to 61 percent, but all other scores increased: reading vocabulary from 53 to 60 percent, reading comprehension from 53 to 63 percent, study skills from 56 to 62 percent, math from 62 to 66 percent, science from 62 to 68 percent and social studies from 61 to 71 percent.

This year’s eighth graders score higher than last year’s on all tests. For reading vocabulary scores increased from 46 to 55 percent, reading comprehension from 50 to 61 percent, language from 56 to 64 percent, study skills from 55 to 63 percent, math from 53 to 68 percent, science from 51 to 67 percent, and social studies from 52 to 59 percent.

For 11th graders reading comprehension scores are up from 53 to 61 percent. However, other scores are down: writing from 66 to 64 percent, using reference materials from 61 to 59 percent, math from 61 to 59 percent, science from 69 to 63 percent and social studies from 74 to 62 percent.

Dr. Gangel showed the board members a series of graphs of fourth, eighth and 11th grade scores in reading and math for the past 17 years. During those years the scores have been up and down, recently more up than down, but they have generally stayed within three standard deviations of the average of