The state's Achievement School District says its students have shown signs of progress a year after it started operating some of the state's lowest performing schools.

The goal of the district is to move the bottom 5 percent of schools in the state to the top 25 percent in five years.

ASD officials announced Wednesday that the district earned a "level 5" growth rating and that its students made solid gains in math, science and social studies.

Reading scores dropped, but officials say schools have taken steps to turn that around with changes that include hiring literacy experts and building schedules with extra time in reading and writing.

The district is part of the state's national Race to the Top education initiatives.