This number improves upon last year when eight of 16 schools met the standard and comes despite an 11.4 percentage point increase in the AYP math standard for 2007-08.

Last year, 65.8 percent of students within each subgroup being tested had to meet the standard for a school to make AYP. This year, that number moved to 77.2 percent as the state moves toward 100 percent proficiency in 2013-14.

A subgroup consists of at least 40 students in six racial categories, as well as those identified as economically disadvantaged, limited English proficient and students with disabilities.

"I'm pleased that math achievement in our elementary and middle schools improved this year, with almost 87 percent of our students testing proficient," Superintendent Neil Pedersen said in a news release.

"Our middle schools made particularly strong gains, especially with African-American and Latino students," he said. "The keys to our success are designing engaging instruction that is aligned with the state curriculum and using high-yield instructional strategies."


The results

Schools meeting all AYP standards so far are Ephesus, Estes Hills, Glenwood, Rashkis, Scroggs, Seawell, Smith, the Hospital School and two high schools: Carrboro High and Chapel Hill High.

Overall AYP results for elementary and middle schools won't be available until November when reading scores are released.

At the elementary level, three schools did not meet the AYP standard in math for one or more subgroups. They are Carrboro Elementary, Frank Porter Graham Elementary and McDougle Elementary.

At the middle school level, three schools did not meet the standard in math for one or more subgroups. They are McDougle Middle, Culbreth Middle and Phillips Middle.

At the high school level, East Chapel Hill High did not meet the standard for one or more subgroups in math and reading.

Secondary schools that did not meet all AYP standards do not face any sanctions under the federal No Child Left Behind legislation. These schools do not receive the Title I funds associated with this reform initiative.


What it means

Three schools -- Carrboro, Frank Porter Graham and McDougle elementaries -- are in School Improvement Status because they have missed one or more standards for math for at least two years.

Schools must miss the standard for at least one subgroup in the same subject area for two consecutive years to be placed in School Improvement Status, which means they must let students transfer to other schools.

So far, only 16 students at these three schools have requested a reassignment. Parents at these schools received letters this month detailing the schools' performance and offering Ephesus and Morris Grove Elementaries as transfer options.

This is the first year of School Improvement at McDougle Elementary.

This is the second year of School Improvement because of math scores at Carrboro Elementary. The school entered School Improvement Status two years ago on the basis of reading scores. It met those standards in 2007.

This is the third year of School Improvement Status at Frank Porter Graham Elementary. In the third year, schools must use Title I money for tutoring programs.

Schools that miss AYP standards but do not face NCLB sanctions must revise their School Improvement Plans to show instructional changes they will make in this subject area.

Part of East Chapel Hill's status was due to a miscoding error, according to Diane Villwock, executive director of testing and program vvaluation. A number of students at the school had the wrong computer codes attached to their test records that should have indicated students had taken the Algebra I test. The reading status at East was due to testing fewer than 95 percent of students in a subgroup on the writing test.