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Cumberland County high schoolers scored well on end-of-course tests taken this fall, preliminary data indicates.

On Thursday, Ron Phipps, the executive director of testing and assessment, told the Cumberland County schools' Curriculum Committee about double-digit gains.

"For the first time that I have ever looked at high school data, everything is positive," Phipps said.

The jump in scores is, at least in part, attributable to a policy change that started last year, but which was applied to high schools this year. For the first time, school systems were allowed to count higher scores obtained by high schoolers who retook their end-of-course test after failing it.

Without counting the retest, scores were already up, Phipps' data indicates. With the retest, double-digit proficiency gains were posted in all eight subject areas.

The biggest gains were posted on the geometry test - both before and after the retest was factored into the data. Before the retest, 71.2percent of test takers were proficient, up from 60.4 percent last year. After the retest, 80 percent of test takers were deemed proficient.

Overall, 894 students scored a three or better on at least one end-of-course test after initially failing it. Students were required to attend 10 to 12hours of remediation before attempting the retest.

The remediation began immediately after students learned they had failed, Phipps said.

"Typically, the spring scores are higher than the fall scores," Phipps said. "I think this is just a good sign of positive things to come."

Most of the retesting is complete, Phipps said. Fewer than 10 students with extenuating circumstances have not taken the retest, Phipps said.

The first test score makes up 25 percent of a student's grade. In some high schools, the retest isn't counted at all, Phipps said. In others, it counts as a major test grade.

Earlier this week, principals discussed the scores and how they were using them as part of a student's grade. Superintendent Frank Till Jr. said he wants some uniformity to how the end-of-course scores are used.

Some principals are against using the retest scores as 25percent of a student's grade, Till said. Those principals feel that the students who retest are given an unfair advantage - two chances, Till said.

Till said he does not want to change policies until after the spring tests are taken.

"I just thought that it was so unfair to the student to retake the test and to not get credit for it one way or another," said board member Mary Emily Royal. "Boy, if those kids knew that, and if those parents knew that, we would be beheaded."

Generally, students who don't pass the class and the end-of-course test must retake the course or appeal to a school committee.