Timothy L. Johnson Academy, a charter school that has been threatened with closure, has seen a dramatic turnaround with this year's ISTEP+ results.

Nearly 10 percent more third-, fourth- and fifth-graders, who were the only students tested this year, passed the English/language arts and math sections. For fifth-graders, the numbers doubled for those passing math.

“We're very pleased,” said Steve Bollier, Timothy L. Johnson school leader. “It's the percent increase we need to meet our AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) targets.”

Earlier this school year, Timothy L. Johnson requested an extension of its charter from Ball State University, but low ISTEP+ scores and a weak school board made Ball State question the future of the school. With these new results, the school may be on more solid ground.

“It certainly isn't going to hurt them,” said Larry Gabbert, director of Ball State University's Office of Charter Schools, adding he is happy with the changes, including new board members. Ball State, which is one agency in the state that can grant charters, requires schools make AYP to stay open. AYP is also measured by elementary and middle school attendance rates, as well as high school graduation rates.

Charters are public schools that operate under a special contract that allows them some freedom from state regulation.

Gabbert said the school asked for an extension on the decision for the charter earlier this year until after the AYP results had been received in April because the school believed it would do better on ISTEP+. Ten- and 20-point gains prove it did. Now it's just a waiting game until the official results come back in spring.

“We thought we had passed (AYP) before so you never know,” Bollier said, adding the school has missed in the past.

The Indiana Statewide Testing for Educational Progress-Plus standardized test measures how well students in grades 3-8 and 10 know the material taught in their classes. ISTEP+ tests students in English/language arts and math, and science for grades 5 and 7.

Under the federal No Child Left Behind Act and Public Law 221, a state accountability law, schools face penalties if their performance fails to meet standards.

Fort Wayne's newest charter school, Imagine Schools on Broadway, which opened in August, struggled a bit, though, with its first round of ISTEP+ scores.

Only about 30 percent of its third-graders passed both sections of the test while 26 percent of the fifth- graders passed the English/language arts section.

“Those kids just walked in our door when they took the test,” said Guy Platter, regional director of Imagine Schools, explaining the school didn't really have time to work with the students. He said he hopes those scores will improve in the future with more time.

The MASTer had improvements, though, in all grades with the fifth-graders improving in all three tested areas.

The private and parochial schools performed at the top levels this year with 80 percent and 90 percent of their students passing math and English/language arts. The science scores did suffer some in many areas, but most still saw a majority of students passing.

Bishop Dwenger High School Principal Fred Tone was particularly proud of his students' scores and said they are going to be celebrating them Monday.

“Our kids are working hard,” he said, explaining the school saw 93 percent pass English/language arts and 91 percent pass math.