JEFFERSON TWP — Students in the South Butler School District continued to improve test scores and other achievement benchmarks during the 2004-05 school year.

Because of that, each of the four schools in the district Wednesday night received a plaque from the state.

Assistant superintendent Lyn Logelin presented the awards to the school board and explained they are for adequate yearly progress in student test scores.

The state uses the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment exam to determine what students are learning in reading and math. Each year, the percentage of students required to meet the target score on the tests increases.

Other benchmarks considered by the state for student progress include graduation and attendance.

Meeting the state targets means a school has met adequate yearly progress, a requirement of the federal No Child Left Behind act.

The state released the 2004-05 achievement results in late September. Schools that made adequate yearly progress two consecutive years received the award.

Jim George, the middle school principal, said the awards show the schools are working together to provide education that builds each year. He sees "consistency as being the keystone here at South Butler."

The students at the middle school need to understand the basic skills they learned at the primary and intermediate schools, he said.

Greg Hajek, the primary center principal, said he recognized the responsibility of building a foundation for the students. To create the best opportunities for the students who begin school on different academic levels, he said, the school provides differentiated instruction and involves parents.

Other programs, such as a Homework Olympian award presented to third grade pupils who miss three or fewer homework assignments, also increase student achievement, he said.

Frank Moxie, the high school principal, said the awards prove the schools continue to focus on education.

Tom Tibbitt, the intermediate elementary school principal, said the willingness of teachers to visit other school districts to observe teaching methods and programs contribute to student achievement.

In addition to classroom work, he said, activities such as science fairs and chorus concerts and the involvement of the PTO have improved educational programs in the district.

"We feel we are small but mighty," Tibbitt said.