While some believe report cards reflecting standardized test scores for New York State mandated exams do not reflect a school district's academic achievements, the Mineola School District met state standards and in some cases, exceeded the Nassau County averages.

In 4th grade English, the Mineola School District had deficiencies in only one school - Jackson Avenue School. The only school to fall below the Nassau County average was also the Jackson Avenue School for English.

At the Cross Street School, 82 percent of students who took the 4th grade English exam, either met or exceeded the state standards. At Hampton, 77 percent either met or exceeded state standards while at Meadow Drive, 81 percent either met or exceeded state standards while at Jackson Avenue, 74 percent either met or exceeded state standards. The Nassau County average was 77 percent.

Jackson Avenue was the only school in the district that showed deficiencies in 4th grade English. Four percent of students in the Jackson Avenue School showed serious deficiencies in 4th grade English.

In 4th grade math, all schools in the district with the exception of the Jackson Avenue School exceeded the Nassau County average. At the Cross Street School, 85 percent of students taking the tests either met or exceeded state standards. At Hampton Street School, 87 percent met or exceeded state standards while at Meadow Drive, 90 percent met or exceeded state standards. At Jackson Avenue, 80 percent met or exceeded state standards. The Nassau County average for 4th grade math was 84 percent.

In 8th grade English, 51 percent of Mineola Middle School students met or exceeded state standards yielding 9 percent that showed serious deficiencies in the test. The Nassau County average was 59 percent.

In 8th grade math, 55 percent of Mineola Middle School students met or exceeded state standards. The Nassau County average was 56 percent.

"There were certainly some spots where I wasn't pleased even though we met the state standards," said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Harry Jaroslaw. "I think overall the district did rather well."

Jaroslaw said he felt the district could have done better in 8th grade English even though the state standards were met. On the elementary school level, the superintendent was very pleased with the district's performance. "Given the fact that we have a very diverse student body, I was very proud of the fact that our special education kids, our ESL (English as a Second Language) youngsters and our regular education youngsters all did rather well," he said.

While Dr. Jaroslaw acknowledged that there are still areas that need improving, he said the district has made steady, upward progress. Dr. Jaroslaw said thought is already being instituted into ways to improve the middle school test scores. However, the superintendent said tests scores for middle schools throughout New York State reflect a decrease in academic performance from the elementary school level. "This is true in many schools," he said. "We are right now, for example, in the middle school, looking at some assessments we may want to use in-house which can give us a diagnostic work-up on every kid in the middle school."

There are some who believe, however, that school test scores don't accurately measure a school's academic achievement. Critics believe the grading on the English tests tends to be subjective and schools with a diverse population in which for some students, English is not the primary language spoken, are unfairly penalized.