The results of annual state tests were released Monday and the Newberg School District came out on top.After being tested in reading and literature, mathematics, science and writing, the district beat the state average in nearly every category.

Students in the small schools at Newberg High School posted some of the healthiest gains, but they may have had the most incentive of all the grades tested, as passing the state’s reading test will be a graduation requirement starting with this year’s senior class. The class of 2013 will have to also pass the writing portion of the test to graduate and the class of 2014 will add mathematics to the checklist of requirements for a high school diploma.

In reading, students in third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth and 11th grades were tested and they met or exceeded expectations in greater numbers than the state average.

In mathematics, a subject which caused the district some consternation in this year’s gauge of Adequate Yearly Progress, students performed better than the state as a whole. In third grade, 73.5 percent of students passed, compared to 62.7 percent statewide; in fourth grade it was 73.6 percent, compared to 65.3 percent; in fifth grade it was 64.2 percent, compared to 57.5 percent.

The only blemish for the district was in sixth grade, where the state average was 58.6 percent; district students scored 58.2 percent. In seventh grade 66.3 percent of the students met or exceeded standards while the state average was 60.8 percent. In eighth grade 68.4 percent passed, compared to 64.5 percent statewide. At the high school 76 percent of juniors passed, compared to 68.3 percent statewide.

Math was a tough subject this year, as the minimum scores required to pass were raised as well as the percentage of students who must pass the test. Under the new guidelines, 70 percent of students must meet or exceed standards for a school to pass the test. The standard will continue to rise until 100 percent of students need pass the test.

In science, the district’s younger students outperformed their elders. A total of 82.1 percent of fifth-grade students met or exceeded expectations in the district, compared to 74.1 percent statewide. In eight grade 77.1 percent of students passed, compared to 71.4 percent statewide. High school juniors, on the other hand, only passed the test at a rate of 65.2 percent, while the state average was 70.1 percent.

In writing, where only juniors were tested, 72.4 percent passed, compared to 68.2 percent statewide.

Overall, district officials said they were pleased with the results. “The achievement gap is closing at the high school level,” superintendent Paula Radich wrote in an e-mailed statement. “While we still have work to do, the results of focused efforts to improve reading, writing and mathematics show in these assessment results.”