SMITHFIELD - The latest round of state testing has established that all six schools in town are making adequate progress toward student proficiency under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

Results of tests taken last October in grades 3-8, and grade 11, reveal that that the high school moved from making insufficient progress the previous two years to hitting its target for 2007.

Another highlight of test results made available last week: The William Winsor School was one of only 15 elementary schools in the state to be classified as "commended."

The testing is done annually to measure student proficiency in English language arts - reading and writing - and in math, with a goal of making all students proficient by 2014.

School Supt. Robert O'Brien said the high school's failure to measure up in previous years was due to sub-par math test scores in just one area, within a group of special needs students.

He said that the school staff has been working on math instruction in general, and that the deficiency was corrected.

He acknowledged, however, that "we still have work to do," since testing last year showed just a 31 percent rate of math proficiency at the high school.

O'Brien attributed that in part to tests that were more difficult last year, which contributed to low math test results statewide

O'Brien said that doesn't mean the tests - created by teachers themselves - are too difficult, especially because in many cases students scored just below proficiency levels.

He said the last round of testing, and stricter standards in general, "set the bar higher, so we need to change our expectations in the classroom."

The top high school math proficiency level, 63 percent, was recorded at Barrington High. Classical in Providence had a rating of 40 percent.

Other northern Rhode Island high school math ratings, with fractions rounded off: Burrillville, 20 percent; Johnson, 17 percent; North Providence, 19 percent; Lincoln, 35 percent; North Smithfield, 29 percent; Scituate 27 percent; Woonsocket, 11 percent.

In reading, 72 percent of Smithfield's 11th graders tested proficient, and 46 percent were proficient in writing.

Results for the other Smithfield schools, with the numbers signifying the percentage that tested proficient:

Gallagher Middle: reading, 83; writing, 62; math, 69.

Anna McCabe: reading, 81; writing, 81; math, 75.

Old County Road: reading, 70; writing, 48; math, 68.

Raymond LaPerche: reading, 90; writing, 88; math, 85.

William Winsor: reading, 84; writing, 64; math, 84.

The state takes raw test results from each school, and converts them on the basis of individual student performance to a composite proficiency score for the building.

Each school's composite score must match a single statewide target figure if the school is to be considered as making sufficient progress.

All schools in the Smithfield system scored significantly above the targets for their grade levels. ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ 

O'Brien cautioned against making too much of some individual school results that showed lower proficiency percentages from the year before, since trends are monitored with three years' worth of testing and in any single year "you can expect blips on the radar."

He said some differences in results from school to school can be influenced by outside factors, such as economics.

O'Brien observed that while some local schools that achieved commended status in past years did not do so this year, the change can be attributed at least in part to stricter standards, which are tightened periodically as the No Child Left Behind Act moves toward its 2014 target for 100 percent proficiency.

He also pointed out that fluctuations in proficiency test scores, especially at the elementary level, are to be expected because every year a group of new third graders takes the test for the first time.

Bridget Morisseau, principal at William Winsor and also the district testing coordinator, said she was delighted with her school's commendation for consistently achieving excellence, but added that all schools in the district scored well above average and the differences between a commended school and one that simply met its goals can often be minute.

"I won't minimize our honor," she said. "It's nice to see the hard work pay off, but others are just as deserving."

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- Reach Gerry Goldstein at gerry76@cox.net.