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HIGH POINT — Guilford County students made significant gains in end-of-grade and end-of-course tests, according to preliminary state scores released Tuesday.

The scores show the school system’s results were particularly strong for elementary and middle schools.

Scores improved for all 10 minority groups in the elementary and middle school grades, including double-digit growth in eight of those groups.

Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green praised principals, teachers, parents and students for the testing success.

“While we acknowledge great work … we know that we have great work left to be done,” Green said.

The gap between white and black students also narrowed in reading and math. In 2007-08 there was a 37.1 percent gap in reading scores and a 29.3 percent gap in math. Those gaps have narrowed to 33.1 for reading and 22.6 in math.

Beth Folger, the system’s chief academic officer, attributed improvement among minority students to focusing efforts there and constant evaluation of individual student progress.

“When people are paying attention to it, you usually see improvement,” she said.

Archer Elementary is among the schools showing high improvement. The school will shed federal sanctions this fall because of successive years of academic improvement.

Patrice Brown, the school’s principal, said it took hard work and collaboration among teachers at all grade levels.

“There’s not a magic bullet, I wish I could say there was,” she said.

Scores dropped at the high school level in four key courses: English I; algebra I; civics and economics; and physical science.

Folger said work in those areas continues; similar efforts that helped elementary and middle school students improve are being used at the high schools.

High school scores increased in U.S. history, chemistry and geometry.

Another factor in the improvement is that every student this year was allowed to retake any of the state tests he or she failed.

The difference in the percentage of students who scored at the proficient level often rose by 10 percent or more, as a result of that.

Folger said students performed better the second time because those who failed a test were identified quicker and underwent more tutoring with the school’s best teachers.

Green avoided dwelling on what might be, as every school district across the state prepares for budget cuts. Guilford County Schools could receive between $10 million and $40 million less in state funding this year.

Class sizes could increase and more than 200 teaching positions have been eliminated.

“We can certainly talk about concern,” Green said. “But I can tell you that concern has got to be, and is being, replaced with an attitude that it can be done.”

The results are preliminary and should be certified by the State Board of Education this summer.

Contact J. Brian Ewing at 373-7351 or brian.ewing@news-record.com