Official numbers may not be out, but Concorida Parish schools saw improvement on their iLEAP scores this year.

The Integrated Louisiana Educational Assessment Program tests third, fifth, sixth and seventh graders on the core areas of English language arts, math, science and social studies. Ninth graders are tested in the areas of math and English.

The test is non-high stakes, which means it does not determine promotion.

Superintendent Kerry Laster believes this year’s growth was due to focus by teachers and administrators.

“I have to give credit to hard work each and every day in our classrooms,” she said. “Everyone is focused on improving teaching and learning.”

Laster said the school district is utilizing coaching consultants and doing numerous professional development activities for the teachers and administrators to encourage test growth.

The goals of the strategy implementation is not only to improve test scores, but student learning, she said.

Last year, 43 percent of Concordia Parish third grade students tested at below basic levels for English and 46 percent for Math. This year, however, some improvement was noted, a press release by the school board said Wednesday.

Likewise, fifth and ninth graders in Concordia parish showed gains in math, English and social studies The statewide trend was to decline in those areas.

Last year, 39 percent of fifth graders and 56 percent of ninth graders tested below basic levels for math.

Forty-one percent of fifth graders and 51 percent of ninth graders tested below basic levels for English.

More sixth graders scored at a basic level in English and social studies than last year, and more seventh graders scrored at basic, mastery and advanced levels than in 2006.

Science needs improvement in all of the grades tested for it, Laster said.

Third graders were the only grade tested to show improvement in social studies.