A report card issued by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education indicates that, while Wareham schools are improving, student progress falls below state averages in several areas.

The report card, presented by Wareham Public Schools Director of Curriculum and Instruction Jan Rotella at the May 12 School Committee meeting, details the "adequate-yearly-progress" status for the district and each school, based on results of the spring 2009 MCAS exams.

Adequate yearly progress measures student advancement toward proficiency in English language arts and math, and is reflected in a number called the "composite performance index," or CPI.

If a school does not make adequate progress for two or more consecutive years, it is mandated by the state to follow a plan to improve student achievement.

The middle school, along with John W. Decas Elementary, are both in "restructuring," a state-prescribed course of action for improvement. If the middle school meets adequate yearly progress for 2010, it will be moved out of "restructuring." Schools must meet adequate yearly progress for two consecutive years in order to be moved out of an improvement plan.

The middle school and high school met the requirements for adequate yearly progress across the board in 2009, Rotella said. However, CPI numbers are still hovering below state averages.

"We continue to dig out of the hole in the middle school," Rotella said, explaining that the CPI was once well below the state average.

MCAS testing begins in Grade 3. Student achievement in Grade 3 improved in both English and math. Fourth graders made progress in English, and math results remained nearly level. The results are still below state averages for those grades.

Grade 5 achievement was above the state average in both English and math, but dropped on the Science and Technology/Engineering test, which is first introduced in that grade.

A teacher task force charged with reviewing the science curriculum for Grades 3 through 8 recommended new textbooks and additional professional development, Rotella said.

Rotella is also investigating whether "teaming" of teachers at the elementary level would help increase achievement. One teacher would instruct math and science and another would teach English and social studies.

Students are currently taking 2010 MCAS exams. The results will be made available to schools in the fall, with the report card coming out the following spring.