Over the next two weeks, Easton School District students in grades 3 through 8 plus 11 will be sweating through the PSSA tests.

Last year, the girls outperformed the boys in both math and reading. So the boys have some work to earn the bragging rights back.

In math, in 2011, of 4,407 students tested, 80.7 percent were considered advanced or proficient compared with state averages showing 77.1 percent proficient or advanced in the subject, according to an analysis of the test scores.

For reading, while 73.5 percent of the students in the state were found to be proficient or advanced, 73.2 percent of the 4,415 EASD students tested were deemed advanced or proficient, just shy of the state mark.

On Friday, schools across the district help pep rallies to motivate the students through the weekend.

Third grade teacher Sean Killen at Shawnee Elementary School got the crowd fired up as the Shawnee Shark pumped its fist and the screams started.

During the next half hour, students would discuss test-taking tips, watch an inspirational video and hear messages from the principal and teachers to help them pump up the volume and prepare for the PSSAs.

"We're very fortunate that our students are motivated to do well and make themselves, their teachers and their families proud," Principal Josie Galloway said.

The annual Pennsylvania System of School Assessment is a standards-based, criterion-referenced assessment used to measure a student's attainment of the academic standards while also determining the degree to which school programs enable students to attain proficiency of the standards.

Every Pennsylvania student in grades 3 through 8 and grade 11 is assessed in reading and math. Students in grades 5, 8 and 11 are assessed in writing and ones in grades 4, 8 and 11 are assessed in science.