More than 1,300 students across the Austin Independent School District recently opted to undergo the national foreign language exams in French, German, Latin and Spanish—335 of which received highest honors for their scores.

Students from Austin, Bowie, Crockett, and LASA high schools as well as from Gorzycki, Kealing and Small middle schools each elected to undergo the voluntary examination process, which is recognized by the National Association of Secondary Principals and open to students nationwide. Since there is no district benchmark for mastery of world languages, these exams provide an opportunity for students to measure their growth and progress compared to other students both in and outside the district.

The most widely taken examination was the National Spanish Exam, where 681 students were tested for vocabulary and grammar as well as listening and reading compression. More than 33 percent of the students tested on the Spanish exam received highest honors. There were 265 students who took the National Latin Exam, which in addition to testing students’ knowledge of grammar also tests historical understanding of classical literature and other literary devices.

Austin ISD and the department of foreign language commends these students’ willingness and efforts to participate in this academic competition and are extremely proud of those who ranked among the highest in the nation.