Despite a small decline in ISTEP-Plus scores across the state, generally scores in Lake and Porter counties were a mixed bag with some drops but still plenty of bright spots throughout the region.

Database: Search our 2008 ISTEP results.

Schools that traditionally have done well on Indiana Statewide Testing for Educational Progress-Plus continued to do so, even though some of them dropped a few percentage points. There were similar results for students in parochial schools in Lake and Porter counties, who generally showed increases, with some declines at certain grade levels.

Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Suellen Reed said at a Wednesday morning news conference in Indianapolis the overall pass rates declined slightly compared to last year.

Statewide, 2008 pass rates across all grades tested were approximately 71 percent in English/language arts, 74 percent in math and 60 percent in science.

Despite gains made by many local schools, Reed said the latest ISTEP-Plus results are "disappointing" from a state perspective.

"Of course, we need to do better. There's no question about that," she said. "Until we have 100 percent passing, we're never going to be satisfied."

Some parts of the state suffered bad weather during ISTEP this year, and the economy may have had some bearing, Reed said.

Many residents in Munster, Lake Station, Gary, Portage, Hobart and other Northwestern Indiana communities suffered extensive financial damage because of flooding in mid-September, at the same time that ISTEP was administered.

Eads Elementary School in Munster was closed a week for flooding. The high school was closed four days and used as a shelter to house displaced residents.

"We don't want to offer excuses, but we did have some really bad weather during ISTEP this year," Reed acknowledged. "We have some schools where lots of kids moved out. We also have some schools where the poverty rates have gone up for free and reduced lunch significantly."

Reed said the true test is what will parents, students and educators do to turn the results around.

Maureen Stafford, director of Instruction and Assessment for Munster schools, said scores went up in some areas and down a few points in other areas.

"Hopefully, we're pretty much where we were at," she said. "We haven't really had a chance to delve into the data yet. Regardless of how well we do, we always look at ways to improve, implementing new programs for those kids who are struggling."

Despite the floodwaters in Munster, 78 percent of students in the district passed both the English/language arts and the math portion of the test.

Bruce Bush, principal at Edison Junior- Senior High School in Lake Station, said his sophomores are still struggling with English and math standards.

Lake Station sophomores scored 43 percent this year in English/language arts compared with 50 percent last year. Those same students scored 47 percent this year in math compared with 51 percent last year.

Bush said the high school is looking at doing some assessments at the beginning of next school year to determine where students are in math and reading. He also said they are looking at adding a reading teacher at the seventh- and eighth-grade level to help students.

Fourth-graders at Gary's Dr. Bernard C. Watson Academy for boys jumped from 51 percent to 71 percent in English/language arts. Those same students went from 42 percent to 74 percent in math, meaning the all-boys school is making a difference in student performance.

Merrillville Superintendent Tony Lux said the district was pleased to see math scores at seven of eight schools go up.

"When you combine all of the grades, three to 10, we have the highest percentage of students passing math in the last 12 years since ISTEP has been given," he said, adding administrators placed a heavy emphasis on math over the last year.

The ISTEP exam is being moved from the fall to the spring, so students will take the test twice this year. The written problem-solving portion of the test will be given in March, followed by a multiple choice portion in April.

The state has created a new Web site www.doe.in.gov/istepparentnetwork allowing parents to track their child's ISTEP results.

Times staff writer Patrick Guinane contributed to this report.