The Cherokee County School District saw scores for elementary and middle schools declined significantly at most grade levels in the second year of the state accountability test.

The third grade was the only class in which district students are passing or scoring exemplary in most subject areas, according to results released Friday morning by the state Department of Education. Every other grade in county schools saw a drop in the number of students able to make a passing grade on South Carolina’s Palmetto Assessment of State Standards (PASS).

County students posted their highest scores in English and Math in grades 3- 8. Their lowest performance occurred on the social studies and science tests.

Overall, the Cherokee County School District saw scores improve in 12 of 24 areas on this year’s PASS test. Results were reported for students in writing, English, math, science and social studies.

The PASS test has three scoring levels, “Exemplary,” “Met,” and “Not Met” based on a student’s knowledge of state academic standards.

Cherokee County School District testing coordinator Kathy Phillips noted 46 percent of the district’s third grade students scored exemplary in English. The district had at least 10 percent of students score exemplary in social studies.

“We have a lot of room for improvement,” Phillips said. “We want to see more students scoring at the ‘Exemplary’ and ‘Met’ categories on the PASS test every year.”

Statewide, the percentage of public school students meeting or exceeding state standards increased in a majority of subjects in four of six grades tested between 2009 and 2010. South Carolina students did better on writing in all grades except grade 7, in English in all grades except 5 and 8, and in science in grades 4, 7, and 8. Mathematics scores increased in grades 3 and 8 and held steady in grade 6.

State Superintendent of Education Jim Rex said the results show that schools remain determined to help students succeed despite budget cuts that have led to thousands of eliminated positions and furloughs, curtailed programs, fewer classroom supplies and larger class sizes.

“South Carolina’s educators should be applauded for keeping the focus on teaching and learning even in tough times,” Rex said. “We’re doing the best we can now to help them with standards and curriculum support, but we’re all facing an ‘imperfect storm’ of dwindling resources and greater student needs.”