A new set of Hawai'i State Assessment scores shows that students in Grades 4, 6 and 7 outperformed third-, fifth- and eighth-graders on the test administered last spring.

However, fourth- and sixth-graders lagged slightly on the Stanford Achievement Test, while seventh-graders scored about the same as the eighth-graders.

While results for Grades 3, 5, 8 and 10 were released in August, scores for the other grades were withheld because they were not calculated as part of the "adequate yearly progress" required under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

This was the first time that those in Grades 4, 6 and 7 had taken the tests. DOE spokesman Greg Knudsen explained that the department started testing those this year as a trial run to ensure that the testing would go smoothly when it takes on higher stakes next year.

Next year, No Child Left Behind will require all students from Grade 3 to 8, plus 10, to be included in the adequate yearly progress results, which determine whether schools are making enough progress toward the ultimate goal of having every student proficient in all core subjects by 2014.

The Hawai'i State Assessment results show how well students are meeting proficiency at the state's academic standards for reading and math.

Schools that do not hit the targets are subject to sanctions that range from providing tutoring or offering transfers to a complete overhaul of the school by the state.

Almost two-thirds of schools missed No Child Left Behind goals last year.

Releasing the trial test scores has usefulness now because it presents a fuller picture of how schools are performing, according to the DOE.

"It does allow parents to really take a closer look at the elementary schools, and particularly intermediate and middle schools, because now you can get test results for every grade in middle schools," Knudsen said.

Reach Treena Shapiro at tshapiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.