For school systems, the bottom line question for the End of Course test results is not how many students earned scores of Excellent or Fair, it’s how many managed to stay out of the Needs Improvement category.

Students earn one of four achievement levels on EOC exams: Excellent, Good, Fair or Needs Improvement. To earn a passing score and to eventually graduate, students must earn a rating of Fair or higher in a subject.

Incoming freshmen must earn passing scores on at least three EOC tests during their high school career to take home a state-issued diploma. The three passing scores must be in English II or English III, Algebra I or Geometry, and Biology or U.S. History.

By that measure, the Washington Parish School System surpassed the state averages in two of the four recent test subjects, according to results announced this week.

“I was very, very, very pleased with the results,” said Superintendent Darrell Fairburn.

He said he was initially concerned because the participating high school students took the tests on computers rather than with pencil and paper this year.

“But I think it was evident that our teachers have prepared our students for taking tests using computers,” Fairburn said. “I’m real happy with the results. We’ve got some areas, especially in math, that we’ve got to look at what we think we can do better, but I’m real pleased.”

Bogalusa City Schools Superintendent Louise Smith could not be reached for comment. That system tested below the state averages across the board but above Washington Parish in Algebra I.

A comparison of state, parish and city EOC passing rates follows:

In Algebra I, the state average of students who scored Fair or above was 79 percent. The Washington Parish average was 70 percent, and the Bogalusa average was 74 percent.

In Geometry, the state average of students who scored Fair or above was 80 percent. The Washington Parish average was 74 percent, and the Bogalusa average was 64 percent.

In English II, the state average of students who scored Fair or above was 90 percent. The Washington Parish average was 92 percent, and the Bogalusa average was 87 percent.

In Biology, the state average of students who scored Fair or above was 87 percent. The Washington Parish average was 90 percent, and the Bogalusa average was 83 percent.