The trajectory is thought to be heading in the right direction, despite lower NCEA numeracy pass rates.
Just over half of students passed the compulsory numeracy course in May – down more than five percentage points on last year.
Reading and writing pass rates saw little change.
Darfield High School Principal Andy England told Ryan Bridge people shouldn't read too much into the decline, because improvement is being felt across the country.
He says this is the first exam Year 10 students take, and they don't even need it in Year 11 or Year 12.
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