Despite mixed scores in 2008, Aiken County administrators are proud of the overall growth of PACT scores for the past few years.

Scores on the Palmetto Achievement Challenge Test, the standardized test for South Carolina since 1999, measure third- through eighth-grade pupil performance on state curricula.

Pupils are tested in English/language arts, math, science and social studies, with grade-level scores in four categories: below basic, basic, proficient and advanced. Pupils must score at least basic, or a C average, to meet state standards.

Aiken County pupils out-scored state averages in 13 of 24 grade-level tests, including all English and math scores. Edgefield County beat state averages in 15 grade-level tests, again mostly on English and math scores.

Science and social studies, however, proved a harder challenge for pupils, with Aiken County falling below state averages in each subject area. Each year a random sample of pupils take one of the two exams.

The largest gain in Aiken County came in fourth-grade science. Scores were up 8.7 percentage points, and 70.1 percent of pupils met standards. Only fifth- and eighth-grade math scores fell below 2006 averages.

"We have to figure out which ones are passing and then use the instruction they were given and share it with the rest of the district," said Kevin O'Goreman, Aiken County schools' associate superintendent for instruction. "When I look at scores, I don't see an overall regression in science."

The largest drop came in third-grade math. Scores dropped 5 percentage points from 2007, and 76.6 percent of pupils met standards.

Dr. O'Goreman said the standards for second- and fourth-grade math were not as rigorous as those for third grade.

Edgefield County's largest gains and drops came in science. Sixth-grade science scores dropped 10.3 percentage points, with 51 percent of pupils meeting standards. Seventh-grade science scores increased by 7.7 percentage points, with 71 percent of pupils passing standards.

South Carolina Education Superintendent Jim Rex said he was pleased with statewide results as well, "but we're nowhere near where we need to be as a state."

The state uses PACT results to create yearly report cards for schools and districts to track progress for accountability goals. The federal government uses PACT results to judge how well South Carolina is meeting goals for the No Child Left Behind law.

PACT will be replaced by the Palmetto Assessment of State Standards, or PASS, this spring, something Dr. O'Goreman is looking forward to. Educators have said that PACT does not give adequate teacher feedback on individual students.

"It could be tough with the new assessment because we don't know what we're working with, but it will be nice to see what might change," Dr. O'Goreman said.

Parts of the new PASS will be administered in March.

Source: South Carolina Department of Education