NORWICH – According to a report issued by the State Education Department Tuesday, statewide testing showed an overall increase in scores.

Improvement is most recognizable in middle school grade levels 6 through 8. Grade 6 increased by 2.8 percent, grade 7 improved by 1.4 percent, and grade 8 increased by 7.7 percent state wide. Also, statewide fewer students are showing academic hardship in all except third grade.

Results for students with disabilities overall shows an improvement.

“This year’s improvement in every grade of middle school is encouraging,” State Education Commissioner Richard Mills said. “Why did this happen? Successful school leaders tell us they have high expectations for all children, focus on reading in every class, use proven practices that work, and act quickly to give extra help to students as they need it.”

Students receive a specific scale score on the tests, which falls into one of four levels. To show progress, each student should score a level three or four. Level one shows serious academic problems, level two partially meets the learning standards or meets part of the learning standards, level three meets the learning standards and level four exceeds the learning standards.