Over 68 percent — 68.4 — of fifth grade students in Person County Schools tested proficient in science, as compared to 63.4 percent statewide.

Bethel Hill Charter School had 67.2 percent of fifth graders working at or above grade level in science, according to data recently released by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

Maggie Whitt, assistant superintendent for K-five instruction in Person County Schools, said last year’s pilot offered “an awareness of the fact that science is on our plates” at the elementary level and that teachers were making sure to give science “equal time” with reading and math instruction.

She said the school system increased its focus on science in 2004-05 through a Progress Energy grant that helped equip science labs in schools so that students could participate in hands-on, inquiry-based learning.

Whitt said, at the elementary level, teachers had also increased their focus on integrating science into all subject areas.

When she saw the scores on the pilot test, said Whitt, she “felt pretty good about being above the state average, but we still have work to do.”

She pointed out that, “only two districts close by — Orange County and Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools — “did better than us.”

John Betterton, principal of Bethel Hill Charter School, was also happy that his fifth graders scored above the state. But, Betterton added, “This was a pilot test. We need more data before we put a lot of stock in” the science test.

In the eighth grade in Person County Schools, 61.1 percent of students were proficient on the pilot science test.

In the eighth grade of Person County Schools, 61.1 percent of students were proficient on the pilot science test.

Sandy Davis, assistant superintendent for six-12 instruction, said that she would have hoped for scores higher than the state’s 63.8 percent, but that she was proud of the effort teachers had made for the past three years in their attempt to get ready for the test.

Citing Progress Energy’s help in equipping middle school labs as well as those in elementary schools, Davis said teachers took inventory and “told us what they needed” to teach hands-on science.

She said another grant, through the Math and Science Partnership, allowed teachers at both middle schools to align their curriculum “from a pacing guide perspective” so that students would be taught the same thing “no matter which middle school” they attended.

She said the middle schools had also received extra instructional support in science and that teachers had participated in professional development workshops on inquiry-based instruction.

“We’re hoping,” Davis said, “that after this one year of field testing, our scores will improve” on the upcoming science end-of-grade test.

“We do recognize,” she said of teachers and administrators, “that science is a subject that can get kids engaged and excited, and that’s a big positive.”

Sam Kennington, principal of Roxboro Community School, said he was proud of his students and teachers for scores above the state average.

He said that having 74.1 percent of his eighth graders proficient in science was cause to celebrate because “any time we can be ahead of the state, we’re happy.” Kennington added, however, “Our goal is to always be above the state, and we hope to be above the nation as soon as we can.”

He said RCS teachers would “continue to emphasize science in the curriculum” and through hands-on learning.

Kennington added that, “testing is tough. We know that all school districts do all they can to do their best for students” but that “scores will vary” from one year to the next.

Whitt said that principals in Person County Schools were asked at their last leadership team meeting to develop a brief plan for their schools that addresses the greatest needs in regards to teaching science. Those plans will be addressed at the next meeting, Whitt said.

The federal government requires all states to launch elementary and middle-school science exams no later than this year.