Vae View Elementary in Davis School District was released from the school improvement program this year. Like many other schools, Vae View identified individual students who were struggling and gave them extra help.

It also boosted reading and writing programs, and after two years of barely meeting benchmarks, it was removed from the list.

But principal Eric Holmes said teachers might be able to enjoy only a brief sigh of relief before they are back on the list.

This year, benchmarks go up again — about 7 percent in both reading and math — and Holmes said it is nearly impossible to jump that far in a year, calling it "statistically unheard of."

"I think schools are getting better, but we're coming closer to a threshold where we just won't be able to continue to make those kinds of improvements," Holmes said. "We barely made it this year — I don't know how we are going to make a 7 percent jump across the board."

But Holmes said with the law being re-issued next year, he hopes "common sense will prevail" and parameters will be adjusted so they are more realistic.

For a list of Utah schools and their status, go to www.schools.utah.gov.

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E-mail: terickson@desnews.com