"More Wyoming schools showed improvement in academics and reaching certain student groups during the 2003-2004 year than in the previous school year, according to new school accountability data released Tuesday. With a 92 percent rate of the schools and school districts achieving ‘adequate yearly progress,’ or AYP, Wyoming is doing better than other states that release their results, such as South Dakota at 79 percent or Indiana at 76 percent, said Wyoming Department of Education spokeswoman Deborah Hinckley."

"‘We feel like we’re really ahead of the pack,’ Hinckley said. But neither the department nor educators will be happy until all schools fulfill the goals of the federal No Child Left Behind Act by 2014, she said."

"This year, 29 schools did not make the AYP list, according to a news release from Superintendent of Public Instruction Trent Blankenship. Of that number, 15 did not meet AYP for the first time, and 14 did not make AYP for the second consecutive year, Blankenship said. … The 29-school figure marks a 46 percent decrease from 54 schools on the AYP list in the 2002-2003 school year, Blankenship said. Thirty-eight schools on the 2002-2003 list improved to the point that they were removed from the new list, he added."

"Schools that did not meet the goal are identified as ‘high priority,’ she said. They will be the focus of more state and local resources such as professional development, reading programs, access to grants, help teachers align curriculum to meet testing requirements, and improve classroom climate through meal programs, Hinckley said."