A new report shows Seattle Public Schools posting gains in academic achievement between 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 school years.

District-wide WASL (Washington Assessment of Student Learning) test results showed fourth, seventh and tenth graders achieved higher scores compared to the previous year for both mathematics and reading. The gains in reading test scores ranged from an increase of 7 percentage points in the fourth grade to an increase of approximately 16 percentage points in the tenth grade. Gains in math ranged from an increase of nearly 2 percentage points in fourth grade to an increase of almost 7 percentage points in the seventh grade.

"We are encouraged by the progress made in meeting the specific educational goals of the Local-Flexibility Demonstration Program Plan," said Superintendent Raj Manhas. "It demonstrates that our strategies to enhance academic achievement in math and reading are working."

According to the report, all elementary and middle schools surveyed met Washington state standards in reading last school year. Students in 10 of 11 high schools also achieved the reading standards.

As for the math component, 12 of the 19 elementary schools met the state's standards, while 12 of the 13 middle schools fulfilled the benchmarks. Only five of the 11 high schools achieved the standards in math.