BRISTOL/WARREN — According to a study released in March by the R.I. Department of Education, state test scores in reading, writing and math have increased across the board. Mt. Hope High School’s graduation rate went up about 5 percent in 2008 compared to 2007 and Kickemuit Middle School is making annual yearly progress, according to the state’s school performance classifications.

About 80 percent of Mt. Hope students graduated within four years in 2008. In 2007, about 74 percent graduated within four years. At the middle school, 95 percent of students make attendance quotas.

The study also polled students to get a read on the climate of their schools; whether they get along with their teachers, whether they have offered or been offered marijuana in a school hallway, or whether they can tell a staff member about an abusive relationship. One part of the study examined “youth health risk behaviors,” which looked at drug and excessive computer and Internet use.

“Children who are healthy are better prepared to learn in school, they tend to perform better, and they are more likely to graduate,” read the study. “You would like to see that a relatively low percentage of students respond positively to each of these questions. Therefore, the numbers reported in each column should be low – zero percent would be ideal.”

Health numbers

According to the annual study, about 40 percent of Mt. Hope High School students drank alcohol at least once a month; 31 percent used illegal drugs and 26 percent smoked cigarettes. New Shoreham, the Block Island School, faired the worst on the study for drug use, while Barrington scored the best.

About 14 percent of KMS students drank alcohol once a month, 5 percent used illegal drugs, and 6 percent smoked cigarettes.

The study also addressed eating habits, saying almost half the Mt. Hope students ate breakfast two days or fewer a week, while about 27 percent of KMS students ate it at the same rate.

Academic numbers

The study also looked at academic achievements. According to the study, about 15 percent of seniors took an advanced placement (AP) exam. Out of those students, 39 percent scored a high enough level to potentially receive college credit.