Recently the New York State Department of Education released this year's report cards for the Massapequa School District. The reports showed an overall improvement in test scores across the district, with the most dramatic improvement at the high school level.

The reports offer statistical information about the scores on state tests in Mathematics, English language arts, Science, and Social Studies. "They are accurate in that the numbers are the numbers," said Massapequa Schools Superintendent James Brucia.

However, Brucia added, "I'm not totally satisfied with the results."

Massapequa PTA Council President Kathy Sullivan also said that, overall, she was satisfied with the results reported. "I was satisfied with the report cards, but do I wish the kids would do better, sure," said Sullivan.

The scores show that compared to the last two report cards, 1994-95 and 1995-96, the numbers have improved. But, compared to similar schools, the numbers still remain slightly below other "similar" districts.

Some of the most striking improvements at the high school level included the regents examinations in foreign languages. At Massapequa High 94 percent of pupils tested passed their examinations in either Spanish, French, German, Italian, Latin, or Hebrew. Last year's scores showed that only 68 percent passed these tests. Also, 56 percent passed with distinction this year, up from 32 percent the year before.

Similar trends followed for the regents examinations in biology and chemistry. The districtwide percentage of students passing the biology examination this year was up 14 percent from last year's 60 percent. At Massapequa High, 55 percent passed the chemistry examination, up 12 percent from last year.

The scores for the regents exam in global studies also reflected improvement. 76 percent of high school students passed the exam, up from 62 percent the year prior.

One of the biggest changes from last year's reports was the addition of a new statistical line which shows the percentage of students passing the exams compared to the number of students taking the exam. For example, in chemistry only 212 students chose to take the regents examination, causing the statistics to show that only 55 percent of Massapequa High students passed the exam. However, 92 percent of those students tested actually passed the exam.

Brucia and Sullivan both agreed that this was a positive move by the New York State Education Department which benefits the Massapequa School District.

"A better indicator [for Massapequa] this year was that they gave a reflection of those who took the test," said Brucia.

Sullivan added that many parents become very alarmed when they read Newsday's reporting of the report card results. The figures released only showed the district averages based upon the number of students in the district.

At the elementary level, improvement wasn't as sharp as at the high school level. However, improvement was made.

On the third grade reading test, 98 percent passed the state mandated minimum level, up from 97 percent in 1995-96 and 96 percent in 1994-95. However, Sullivan says that because the state of New York has a lower minimum level than Massapequa, the scores for students passing with mastery is a better indicator of performance. 60 percent of students passed the same test with distinction. In third grade mathematics, 100 percent of Massapequa students met the minimum level set by the board of regents.