Test scores for last year's tenth and eleventh grade students at Austin public schools are pretty close to the state average.

Students in grade 10 took reading tests. In Minnesota, 81 percent of students tested at or above grade level on that test. For all students in Austin, the percentage testing at or above grade level was 80.3 percent. Austin High School students alone passed at an 82 percent rate.

Students in grade 11 took math tests. Across the state, 79 percent of students tested at or above grade level. All schools in Austin were above that number, at 80.3 percent. Austin High School students alone were at 81.7 percent.

Reading and math are the two subjects in focus this year at Austin High School. In order to boost test scores, the district is trying out some new things with struggling students.

Next year, incoming ninth graders that did not meet the minimum score on eighth-grade tests will have double the math classes previously taught. Teachers and administrators hope this will prepare them for the classes required under new academic standards for incoming freshmen. To graduate, students will have to take classes at least as advanced as algebra, geometry and statistics and probability.

Students with trouble reading will be spending more time in the language lab this year.

Matt Merritt can be reached at 434-2214 or by e-mail at :mailto:matt.merritt@austindailyherald.com