Westwood students scored generally better on 2011 standardized tests than in the previous year, according to data released by the New Jersey Department of Education Wednesday.

The data included the results of the most recent New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge (NJ ASK) and High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA). Students' scores in language arts and math are broken down as being either partially proficient, proficient or advanced proficient. Westwood schools had a smaller percentage of partially proficient scores and a larger percentage of proficient and advanced proficient scores in 2011 than in 2010 in most grade levels.

Director of Elementary Education Rory McCourt said he was pleased with the improvement and hopes to help scores continue to rise.

"We spent a lot of time working very hard as a district to try to increase student achievement on standardized tests," McCourt said.

According to McCourt, the district created a NJ ASK primer for teachers to ensure they are ready to prepare their students for the test. Students were also given mock tests throughout the year to gauge their progress.

Westwood students scored similarly to students at other schools in the same District Factor Group (DFG). The district factor group is made up of schools from socio-economically similar communities. There are about 70 districts in the same DFG as Westwood Regional Schools, including nearby Emerson, Fair Lawn and Hillsdale schools.

Below is a breakdown of Westwood Regional School District scores:

GRADE 3 NJ ASK

Language Arts:

Math:

GRADE 4 NJ ASK

Language Arts:

Math:

GRADE 5 NJ ASK

Language Arts:

Math:

GRADE 6 NJ ASK

Language Arts:

Math:

GRADE 7 NJ ASK

Language Arts:

Math:

GRADE 8 NJ ASK 

Language Arts:

Math:

HSPA

Language Arts:

Math: