MONROE — Results from national tests that students in the Monroe Local Schools took last fall are in — giving the 6-month-old district its first glimpse of what its students know.

        “There were no surprises,” said Superintendent Arnol Elam. “I see some room for improvement. This gives us a good snapshot.”

        In October, all students in grades 2 through 12 took the Stanford Achievement/Ability Tests, which gauge how a student's performance com pares to his or her ability. The tests also allow administrators to compare Monroe students' performance with those across the nation.

        The data provides the district a baseline to which future test scores can be compared, said curriculum director Sue Wilson. It will also be used to guide educators as they review and make changes to curriculum, Mr. Elam said.

        “More than anything the tests were meant to be a diagnostic tool,” said board member Suzi Rubin. “We don't have a long history of scores to look at. This will show us what we're doing right and where we need improvements. It looks like we might need some work in math.”

        Results will be mailed to parents in a few weeks, after school officials and representatives of the testing company have met to interpret them. School officials declined to be more specific about the scores.

        Principal Patti Shull said sixth-graders “did well compared to everyone else. But that's not unusual. That sixth-grade class has always done well on any (testing) instrument we've given them.”

        The district is using the same curriculum as the Middletown Schools until it can be reviewed and revamped, Mr. Elam said. That process is beginning this month as a team works with Ms. Wilson on the math curriculum. Next fall another team will be formed to look at language arts. Each year a different curriculum will be studied, Ms. Wilson said.

        Soon, recommendations for increased graduation requirements will be made to the board of education, Mr. Elam said. Additional classes in core subject areas will be offered to high school students for the 2001-02 school year.

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