HAZARD – The state’s eighth- and 10th-grade students scored higher on the EXPLORE and PLAN tests in 2012, according to data released this week, though locally there were some individual drops.

Testing students in the subjects of English, math, science, and reading, the EXPLORE and PLAN exams are precursors to the ACT and used to gauge college readiness. The EXPLORE test is administered each year to eighth-grade students, while the PLAN is given to high school sophomores.

In Perry County, the district as a whole scored 15 out of a total 36 on the EXPLORE test, the same as the previous year, but down slightly from a seven-year high of 15.6 recorded in the 2009-10 school year. The district scored less than a half point lower than the state average of 15.4 in 2012.

Of the county’s individual schools, students from Willard, Viper, Robinson, R.W. Combs, and A.B. Combs either improved on the EXPLORE test or recorded the same score as their predecessors, while scores at Leatherwood, Chavies, Buckhorn, and Big Creek dropped from the previous year.

In the county, students at Robinson Elementary scored the highest composite on the test at 16, which equals the previous year’s score.

Perry County’s sophomores also slightly missed the state average of 17.3 on the PLAN test, though the district improved from the previous year by more than a point, from 16 in 2011 to 17.2 in 2012.

While Perry Central’s sophomores did not meet the school’s seven-year high of 20.3 recorded in 2009, students did see significant improvement, eclipsing their predecessors’ score by more than one point, from 16 to 17.3.

Sophomores at Buckhorn School also fared better, increasing their school’s composite from 16.3 to 16.7. Buckhorn recorded a high in 2009 of 18.9.

In the Hazard Independent Schools, Roy G. Eversole Middle School (which has since been moved and renamed Hazard Middle School) improved on the EXPLORE test with a score of 16.7. The 2012 score marks a seven-year high for the school, and also the third straight year of improvement.

Hazard High School’s sophomores dropped to a seven-year low on the PLAN test, recording a composite score of 17.3, down 0.6 points from 2011 and down just over one point from the high of 18.4 recorded in 2006.

Statewide, students improved from 15.2 to 15.4 on the EXPLORE test, and from 17 to 17.3 on the PLAN exam.

Perry County Schools, EXPLORE results

District

2012: 15

2011: 15

A.B. Combs

2012: 15.6

2011: 15.2

Big Creek

2012: 15.1

2011: 15.2

Buckhorn

2012: 13.7

2011: 15

Chavies

2012: 14

2011: 14.7

Leatherwood

2012: 14.8

2011: 16.1

Robinson

2012: 16

2011: 16

Viper

2012: 15.6

2011: 15.3

Willard

2012: 13.9

2011: 13.5

Hazard Independent Schools, EXPLORE results

Roy G. Eversole Middle School

2012: 16.7

2011: 16.2

Perry County Schools, PLAN results

District

2012: 17.2

2011: 16

Perry Central

2012: 17.3

2011: 16

Buckhorn

2012: 16.7

2011: 16.3

Hazard Independent Schools, PLAN results

Hazard High School

2012: 17.3

2011: 17.9