When one set of early TCAP reading scores was released earlier this month, Mancos third-graders were the regional stars.

Statewide, 73 percent of third-graders scored proficient or advanced in reading, down one percentage point from last year and on par with 2011.

At Mancos Elementary, though, 78.8 percent were proficient or advanced.

Durango followed at 75, Dolores at 65, Dolores County (Dove Creek and Rico) at 63.5 percent, and the Montezuma-Cortez School District Re-1 at just 51 percent.

Re-1's rural schools did better than the rest of their district, with approximately two-thirds of their third-graders reading at grade level or above, but at Manaugh Elementary, only 30 percent were proficient or advanced.

TCAP (Transitional Student Assessment Program) tests are the updated version of the old, and much-maligned, CSAP tests. Students in grades three through 10 are tested in reading, writing and math, and students in fifth, eighth and 10th grades also are tested in science.

The tests are designed to help educators and parents assess how much progress students have made over the course of an academic year.

Full TCAP results won't be available till late July, when all 54 data sets will be released.