Suwannee County tenth graders beat the state average on the reading portion of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, or FCAT, results of which were released Wednesday. Local students registered a mean, or average, score of 301, compared to 300 statewide. Suwannee’s 2006 mean score was 289.

The passing rate for local sophomores still trailed the state average, however. Thirty-one percent of county tenth graders scored at grade level, compared to 34 percent statewide.

Reading scores rose in every grade but sixth, mirroring a statewide trend. The passing rate rose in reading in every grade but ninth.

Math scores rose locally in fourth, fifth and ninth grades but fell in sixth, seventh, eighth and tenth. The passing rate improved for students in fourth, fifth, eighth, ninth and tenth grades.

Scores on the science portion of the test — a graduation requirement for the first time this year — improved as well, here and across Florida. Eighth and eleventh grade science scores here exceeded the state average.

“It looks a little better,” Carol Risk, district director of secondary education and director of assessment, said of test gains. “But we’re not going to get too excited. They still need to do better.”

Here are the numbers:

Fourth grade mean reading scores here rose to 309 from 303. The statewide average is 316. The percentage of students passing the test increased from 60 to 62 percent. The state average is 68 percent. Fourth grade mean math scores rose to 312 from 304. The state average is 319. Passing percentage increased from 58 to 62 percent. The state average is 69 percent.

Fifth grade mean reading scores rose to 303 from 295. The statewide average is 310. Passing percentage increased from 61 to 68 percent. The state average is 72 percent. Fifth grade mean math scores rose locally to 321 from 315. The state average is 332. Passing percentage increased from 46 to 49 percent. The state average is 59 percent. Fifth grade mean science scores rose from 293 to 295. The state average is 306. Passing percentage increased from 28 to 32 percent. The state average is 42 percent.

Sixth grade mean reading scores fell to 302 from 306. The state average is 306. Passing percentage increased from 59 to 60 percent. The state average is 62 percent. Sixth grade mean math scores fell to 290 from 301. The state average is 307. Passing percentage fell from 44 to 40 percent. The state average is 50 percent.

Seventh grade mean reading scores rose to 310 from 309. The state average is 313. Passing percentage increased from 58 to 60 percent. The state average is 63 percent. Seventh grade mean math scores fell to 303 from 305. The state average is 312. Passing percentage fell from 53 to 52 percent. The state average is 59 percent.

Eighth grade mean reading scores rose to 299 from 297. The state average is 303. Passing percentage increased from 39 to 44 percent. The state average is 49 percent. Eighth grade mean math scores fell to 311 from 313. The state average is 318. Passing percentage increased from 56 to 57 percent. The state average is 63 percent. Eighth grade mean science scores rose from 299 to 304. The state average is 298. Passing percentage increased from 29 to 41 percent. The state average is 38 percent.

Ninth grade mean reading scores rose to 302 from 305. The state average is 308. Passing percentage fell from 37 to 34 percent. The state average is 41 percent. Ninth grade mean math scores rose to 298 from 294. The state average is 302. Passing percentage rose from 52 to 54 percent. The state average is 60 percent.

Tenth grade mean reading scores rose to 301 from 289. The state average is 300. Passing percentage rose from 28 to 31 percent. The state average is 34 percent. Tenth grade mean math scores fell to 318 from 321. The state average is 323. Passing percentage rose from 61 to 64 percent. The state average is 65 percent.

Eleventh grade mean science scores rose from 297 to 303. The state average is 302. Passing percentage rose from 28 to 39 percent. The state average is 37 percent.