Although many Natchez-Adams elementary students scored lower in the latest round of &uot;exit&uot; tests than on previous tests, officials attribute the drop to changes in the test itself.

The Natchez-Adams School District decided to make the December test harder since many students scored too high on the fall version.

The test was altered to require more higher-order thinking skills, said Mary Kate Garvin, assistance superintendent for elementary education.

&uot;When I look at this (December) test, I think that our kids are right on target,&uot; Garvin said. &uot;We are still talking mid-year when they took that test.&uot;

The test, known as the exit test, assesses student knowledge of grade-level skills. It also prepares students for state testing in the spring.

Garvin said lower scores can be expected because of the time of year the students took the district-written test. The kindergarten through sixth-graders were tested in December on skills they have until spring to learn.

In the future, the students will take the harder version of the test in the fall, winter and spring of each school year.

By the spring of 2001, the district may hold students back a grade or require them to attend extended &uot;summer&uot; school if they do not pass the exit test. Students and parents have been made aware of this possibility.

&uot;What is so amazing is all of these kids are aware of tests,&uot; said Joyce Johnson, elementary supervisor. &uot;It is because teachers are talking tests and the importance of the tests.&uot;

Since the December test, district-teachers have put together plan to help each individual child master the skills that are difficult for them.

&uot;It’s almost like we’ve done an individual education plan for each child based on the exist skills.&uot;&160;Garvin said.