High-scoring students in the City of Cullman and Cullman County stand out among the state’s best, notching totals above average in several math and science categories, according to data compiled by the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama (PARCA).

The report looks at testing data from the Alabama Reading and Math Test (ARMT), specifically the spring 2011 testing cycle. Only students scoring in the highest one-fourth, deemed Level IV proficient, are counted in this report. Officials say the purpose is to determine which school systems are achieving results competitive in national terms.

The report is also broken down by poverty and non-poverty categories, showing how students from different socio-economical backgrounds have performed.

Across the board, Cullman City Schools was tied for first with five other systems in first place in the state.

“This is absolutely a credit to our teachers, our personnel, and our board members, who establish those high expectations,” city schools superintendent Dr. Jan Harris said. “I’m so proud Cullman city is one of five districts (that placed well-above average) to do this.”

The city system placed well-above the state average in every 3-5 grade category, including non-poverty students and poverty students. The streak continued in students grades 6-8, where students scored well above-average in math and reading in both poverty and non-poverty metrics.

“It’s just blowing away the state average, and that is so amazing,” city school board president Steve Sides said. “We are so proud.”

In the county system, several scoring areas also placed above the state averages. Non-poverty students in 3-5 grade in the county scored above the state average in every math and reading category. Students below the poverty line did even better, scoring at least 10 points higher than the state average in math, and at least 10 points higher than the state average in two of three categories in reading.

Scores remained solid in 6-8 grade for the county system, though some categories did fall below the state averages. Non-poverty students were level or below the state average in math, though poverty students exceeded the average in all grades. In reading, non-poverty county 6-8 graders were level or below the state average, though poverty students were above or well above the state statistics.

But, overall, Cullman County Board of Education Superintendent Billy Coleman said he was pleased with the progress shown in the county scores.

“Response to instruction is something we’ve worked hard on, along with peer coaching and reading literacy,” Coleman said. “You really have to give those teachers all the credit in the world, and I hope some of the emphasis we’ve placed on reading comprehension will show in some positive test scores. I’m so proud of those students taking the test seriously, and really taking pride in their work.”

* This story was corrected on Jan. 23 to state Cullman City Schools is tied with five other systems in the state for first place.

* Trent Moore can be reached by e-mail at trentm@cullmantimes.com, or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 220.