ROYAL CITY - It's happy days for Royal High school administrators and teachers. Their students did better than well in the latest round of state mandated testing.

Royal High students outperformed the state averages in reading, writing, geometry, and biology in testing for the 2013-14 school year. In addition, Royal made gains from 2012-2013 to 2013-2014 in reading, writing, and biology.

"We have worked hard to create systems that give students the best opportunity to pass the test," District Assessment Coordinator Andrew Perkins said.

A noteworthy point, Principal Matt Ellis said, is that as academic achievement increased, discipline challenges decreased. The number of major infractions Royal High encountered last year was fewer than it had encountered in previous years.

"The data highlights the fact that our kids are more academically engaged," Assistant Principal Rick Follett said. "Our teachers have worked hard to improve their instructional practices and hone in on those students who are not meeting standard. I am pleased with the work our teachers have put in."

According to Ellis, RHS staff members are excited about what the 2014-2015 school year may hold.

"This could be the best year yet," he said.