The state Department of Education had good and bad news Tuesday (Aug. 5) for Hutchinson area schools.

The department released results of Adequate Yearly Progress, a measurement of achievement under the federal No Child Left Behind act, which show New Discoveries Montessori Academy gained ground, while District 423’s Park Elementary and Hutchinson Middle School lost some.

Statewide, the department reports 983 schools made AYP, compared to 1,191 in 2007. The state chalks the slide up to schools making only slight improvements in proficiency while the reading and math AYP targets increased from last year.

Hutchinson High School, Hutchinson Middle School, West and Park Elementary all made AYP last year. This year, Park Elementary and the Middle School did not make AYP.

New Century Charter School made AYP for 2008 and last year. New Discoveries Montessori Academy did not make it last year, but did this year.

Click here to download AYP results for all Minnesota schools and school districts. [2]

(Jorge Sosa is a staff writer for the Hutchinson Leader. He can be reached at sosa@hutchinsonleader.com [3])