Test scores of Arkansas public schools improved on 10 of 14 Augmented Benchmark Exams from 2010 to 2011, the Arkansas Department of Education reported today.

The benchmark exams are given to students near the end of grades 3-8. They measure both student and school performance. Students achieve one of four levels: below basic, basic, proficient and advanced. The goal is to get students to at least “proficient.”

Looking at the numbers, it appears that improvements are being made in younger grades but achievement is topping off in the upper grades.

Here’s a breakdown of the different scores compared to last year.
2011 Grade 3 Math – 85 percent proficient and advanced
2010 Grade 3 Math – 84 percent

2011 Grade 3 Literacy – 76 percent proficient and advanced
2010 Grade 3 Literacy – 71 percent

2011 Grade 4 Math – 82 percent proficient and advanced
2010 Grade 4 Math – 80 percent

2011 Grade 4 Literacy – 82 percent proficient and advanced
2010 Grade 4 Literacy – 71 percent

2011 Grade 5 Math – 78 percent proficient and advanced
2010 Grade 5 Math – 74 percent

2011 Grade 5 Literacy – 77 percent proficient and advanced
2010 Grade 5 Literacy – 74 percent

2011 Grade 6 Math – 77 percent proficient and advanced
2010 Grade 6 Math – 75 percent

2011 Grade 6 Literacy – 71 percent proficient and advanced
2010 Grade 6 Literacy – 72 percent

2011 Grade 7 Math – 74 percent proficient and advanced
2010 Grade 7 Math – 75 percent

2011 Grade 7 Literacy – 67 percent proficient and advanced
2010 Grade 7 Literacy – 68 percent

2011 Grade 8 Math – 63 percent proficient and advanced
2010 Grade 8 Math – 63 percent

2011 Grade 8 Literacy – 77 percent proficient and advanced
2010 Grade 8 Literacy – 76 percent

Click here for more info.