Forest Lake Area Schools continue to be highly effective when compared with similar schools of like demographics throughout the state and the nation, according to a recent academic audit.

In an annual update of the district's Audit of Educational Effectiveness, independent auditors found the district is continuing to meet or exceed expected performance levels in many areas.

"The district has made significant progress in a number of areas during the last year," said Dr. Don Thomas, a researcher with the School Management Study Group. Thomas and his group conducted the district's first academic audit in December 2004 and have updated findings each year since.

Unlike other accountability systems that compare districts on the basis of test results alone, the academic audit takes into consideration the many things that can influence student success. This gives researchers a much more accurate and fair basis for comparing districts and determining their effectiveness.

ï Higher than expected average daily student attendance, 94.3 percent of our students attend school daily.

ïMore students enrolled in Advanced Placement courses ,23 percent of our students are taking AP classes.

ïMore of our students scoring three or above on their Advanced Placement exams, 66 percent of students who take the exam earn a score that could grant them college credit.

ïHigher then expected ACT scores

Our students score above the expected level on the ACT, a college readiness exam used to determine admittance into most Midwestern colleges.

ïDramatically increased the number of students taking the ACT, 55 percent of eligible students took the ACT in 2006, compared to 24.8 percent in 2004.

ïLow drop out rates

The overall district drop out rate is below the expected levels.

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