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Hayden students exceeded state proficiency averages in fifth- and seventh-grade math, but sixth-, eighth-, ninth- and 10th-graders were at least 17 percent below state averages, according to Colorado Student Assessment Program results released Wednesday.

The low scores are becoming a trend in the school system.

Eighteen percent of Hayden eighth-graders were proficient or advanced in math, which is 20 percent below the state average. Of the same eighth-graders, 36 percent scored proficient or advanced in math in the seventh grade last year, so half of those students apparently fell behind.

Twenty-four percent of eighth-graders were proficient in math last year.

Ninth-graders fell 18 percent below state math proficiency averages with 13 percent scoring proficient, down from 18 percent scoring proficient last year.

Sixth- and 10th-graders also fell 17 percent below state averages, and 18 and 14 percent below last year's Hayden sixth- and 10th-grade scores, respectively.

The Hayden School Board ap-proved a new math curriculum May 21. It will implement a "blueprint" for teachers to follow, indicating what their students need to know to meet state standards for their grade level and what students need to know for the CSAP tests.

The goal of the new curriculum is to organize the grades as one cohesive unit, with hopes of eliminating repeating or skipping subject matter.

Not all math scores were down from last year. Fifth-graders' scores improved to 73 percent proficiency, up 26 percent from last year's fifth-graders.

Though most math scores were down, all but one grade in Hayden schools met or exceeded state reading averages.

Only seventh-graders fell below the state average, with 55 percent reading at least proficiently compared with the 61 percent statewide average.

Those seventh-graders placed at 66 percent proficiency in the sixth grade last year.

Eighth-graders' scores improved to 69 percent proficiency, up 9 percent from last year's eighth-graders.

In writing, 10th-graders met the state average, while third-, fifth- and ninth-graders exceeded state averages.

Still, writing scores from every grade but 10th fell from last year's Hayden scores.

Eighth-grade writing proficiency fell 16 percent from last year's eighth-grade class. Third-grade writing proficiency fell 10 percent from last year's third-grade class, and fourth grade fell 9 percent from last year's class.

Superintendent Scott Mader could not be reached for comment.