Students' test scores improve in Tuluksak

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — In May, Channel 2 brought you a report on the struggles faced by the Tuluksak School, one of the lowest-performing schools in Alaska. Last year's test scores, however, show a marked improvement.

For the 2008-2009 school year, only 6 percent of students at Tuluksak were proficient in math, and only 10 percent were proficient in reading and writing -- rates six to 10 times lower than the statewide average.  

In last year's test scores, however, Tuluksak students doubled their proficiency in math and tripled their language arts proficiency scores from the previous year's numbers.

The school’s principal, Lance Jackson, says the improvement gives hope to not only the students and teachers, but the community.

“Those scores reflect them learning a system and starting from a spot where there's consistency, and there's a way for them to grow,” Jackson said.

There are 140 students at the school.

Contact Christine Kim at ckim@ktuu.com