The district previously issued a warning because its special needs students did not reach targets for math and reading proficiency.

Wednesday, the state released results of the PSSA tests conducted statewide. The adequate yearly progress targets last year were 45 percent for math and 54 percent for reading. Altoona students in grades 3 through 5 reached 78 percent and 65 percent rankings repetitively; sixth- to eighth-grade students received 72 percent and 65 percent; and grades 9 through 12 received 58 percent and 71 percent.

The Greater Johnstown School District was also celebrating its PSSA results, which indicated the district not only met its academic performance targets, but also showed the highest increased scores in the state.

Superintendent Barbara Parkins said high-schoolers had a score increase of 23 percent in math and 21 percent in reading.

Parkins attributed the success to quarterly assessments of each student by teachers, a tutoring program and incentives for students to do better.