(Indianapolis, Ind.) – Standardized test scores are up for students across Indiana as officials applaud the results but urge there is still work to do, especially for some school districts in southeast Indiana.

The Indiana Department of Education released Wednesday the results of the 2010 results of the Indiana Statewide Testing for Education Progress-Plus, or ISTEP+.

Approximately 500,000 third through eighth graders across the state took the test given each spring.

In 2010, 81 percent of public schools showed an increase in the percentage of students passing both the English and mathematics portions of the ISTEP+.

“Achieving increases of 4 to 6 percent across the board for students in a majority of Hoosier schools is a tremendous step forward, and I extend sincere congratulations to all of our high-performing and improving schools for their hard work and tenacity,” said Dr. Tony Bennett, Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction. “I am excited to see these gains across the state and am very optimistic that students will continue on this path to excellence."

Statewide results showed pass rates of 74 percent in English/language arts, 76 percent in Mathematics, 67 percent in Science and 65 percent in Social Studies.

Bennett said the department’s goal is to have 90 percent of the state’s students passing both the Math and English/language arts portions by 2012.

Local results were mixed. In Sunman-Dearborn Community Schools, 72 percent of eighth graders passed both the math and English portions of the ISTEP+. North Dearborn Elementary School was one of only 100 schools in the state – placing at 81st - to have more than 90 percent of students pass English at 90.73 percent of 248 test takers.

Batesville Intermediate School was 78th with 90.91 passing English.

Just over 65 percent of South Dearborn Community Schools eighth graders passed both.

In Lawrenceburg Community Schools, only 58 percent of eight graders passed both portions. Rising Sun-Ohio County Schools had 69 percent of their eighth grade students pass math and English.

Number of students passing math and English in ISTEP+ 2009 vs. 2010

LINKS:

Indiana Department of Education 2010 ISTEP+ Scores - http://www.doe.in.gov/istep/