Kansas students, including those in Hoisington’s Unified School District 431, improved performance on statewide reading and mathematics assessments for the 11th straight year, according to results from the 2011 Kansas Statewide Assessments. Results showed that in the areas of reading and mathematics, there are higher percentages of students performing at the exemplary level than at any of the other four performance levels on the assessments.

Students performing in the top three levels on the reading assessment (exemplary, exceeds standards and meets standards) increased to 87.6 percent in 2011, up from 86.3 percent in 2010. On the mathematics assessment, students in the top three levels totaled 84.7 percent in 2011, up from 83.1 percent in 2010. Since 2001, the percentage of students in the top three performance levels has increased 27.4 percentage points in reading and 30.2 percentage points in mathematics.

USD 431 scored Standard of Excellence in the following areas: Lincoln Elementary third, fourth, and building wide reading, and fourth and building wide math; and Hoisington Middle School fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, and building wide reading, and fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, and building wide math.

"Kansas educators are to be commended for rising to the challenge of ensuring that Kansas students are learning to high levels and that all populations continue to show academic improvement," said Education Commissioner Dr. Diane DeBacker. Reading and math assessments are given each year to every grade three through eight and once in high school. To receive Standard of Excellence in reading for grades 3-6, at least 25 percent of students must be in the exemplary category on the state assessment, with not more than 5 percent of students in academic warning. For grades 7-8, 20 percent of students must score in the exemplary category, with not more than 10 percent of students in academic warning. For high schools, at least 15 percent of students must be in the exemplary category, with not more than 10 percent of students in academic warning.

To receive Standard of Excellence in mathematics for grades 3-6, at least 25 percent of students must be in the exemplary category on the state assessment, with not more than 5 percent of students in academic warning. For grades 7-8, 25 percent of students must score in the exemplary category, with not more than 10 percent of students in academic warning. For high schools, at least 15 percent of students must be in the exemplary category, with not more than 15 percent of students in academic warning.