BANGOR – Federal education funds totaling more than $1.1 million will be put to good use this year, helping the school department here reduce class sizes; track students’ academic achievement; prevent bullying; and bring artists and musicians into the classroom, among other things, Assistant Superintendent Betsy Webb said Wednesday.

“The federal funds the Bangor School Department receives all support academic achievement,” she told the school committee. “It’s funding that we put to the same mission as our local dollars.”

The federal grants will help the school system:

. Hire more teachers so there can be only 16 or 18 students per class.

. Create software that records students’ test scores so their progress can be easily monitored.

. Provide anti-bullying education and information to staff, students and parents.

. Give teachers the opportunity to incorporate the arts into their curriculum using local artists, musicians and dancers.

The bulk of the federal funds will pay for programs that provide eligible students with help in reading, writing and math.

Webb also offered good news about how students here stack up nationally on the Metropolitan Achievement Test, given annually in grades two through 10 in reading, math, science and social studies.

“Bangor continues to be above average in all grade levels in all subjects compared to students nationally,” she said.

Webb said in an interview that Bangor offers the test because, while the Maine Educational Assessment provides data on how students compare with others across the state, “we feel strongly we need a national reference, too.

“It’s important to have the full picture,” she said.

Bangor also uses the MAT to help identify students who are eligible to participate in programs for “gifted and talented,” she said.