MANCHESTER — City students scored significantly lower than their statewide counterparts on standardized science tests taken last May, according to results recently released by state education officials.

But the results point to some progress in Manchester. The 2012 results improved slightly compared to 2010 and 2011 scores, with the exception of fourth-graders, whose scores took a slight dip in 2012.

The New England Common Assessment Program, or NECAP, science tests were given to 3,300 students in Manchester schools last May. Students in grades four, eight and 11 were tested.

In the aggregate, 77 percent of Manchester students taking the test placed in the two lowest of four grading categories established by NECAP — substantially below proficient and partially proficient. Statewide, 61 percent scored poorly.

Messages left with Superintendent Tom Brennan and Assistant Superintendent Michael Tursi were not returned Tuesday.

Mayor Ted Gatsas said Tuesday that the results have not been presented to the Board of School Committee, and he is not familiar with them. When told scores were generally lower than the statewide averages, Gatsas noted he has sought a testing waiver because of large numbers of non-English speaking students in the schools.

“It's no different than the waiver we've been looking at for three years, Gatsas said.

The data for Manchester show:

-- Results for students with little English skills improve significantly after they are main-streamed.

In fourth grade, 94 percent of limited-English students performed poorly. But scores are better for limited-English speakers who leave the program. Only 72 percent of fourth-graders scored poorly one year off the limited-English-proficiency status, compared to 67 percent of native English speakers who scored poorly.

In 11th grade, nearly all limited-English speakers, 98 percent, fared poorly. But two years after leaving the program, only 74 percent scored poorly.

-- Thirty percent of fourth-graders scored proficient or proficient with distinction. Only 17 percent of eighth-graders scored well. By 11th grade, the percentage rebounded to 25.

-- Minority high-school students in Manchester scored worse than white students. But differences are not as pronounced between the poor and non-poor students.

Among black 11th-graders, 89 percent scored poorly; Hispanics, 89 percent; Among white 11th-graders, 73 percent scored poorly.

Eighty-seven percent of economically disadvantaged scored poorly, compared to 77 percent of the more affluent group.

For comparison purposes, state averages were six to 10 percentage points better than Manchester.

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Mark Hayward may be reached at mhayward@unionleader.com.