Harford Elementary, Middle Schools Exceed State Standards

are ahead of the state curve in reading and math, based on Maryland School Assessment figures released Tuesday.

According to a release from the school system, Harford County students "outpace the state" in both elementary and middle school reading and math proficiency.

This estimation is based on 98 percent of Harford middle and elementary schools achieving proficiency in math and 83 percent overall proficiency in reading, according to the release.

Harford County students surpassed the state averages at both the elementary and middle school level, see the chart below:

In addition to these assessments, which are done every year, the state also evaluates school progress year over year. This year, a new set of state proficiency standards went into effect.

These new measurements focus on steadily increased student proficiency by 2017, as opposed to all students achieving 100 percent proficiency by 2014.

In 2012, 8 out of 42 Harford County elementary and middle schools did not meet their objectives in reading and/or mathematics, according to the release. The school system says in most cases these schools were short of goal by one or two students.

Harford County is on target to meet the 2017 improvement goal, the school system says.