Student scores for the 2017 administration of the Georgia Milestones Assessment System show increases in many subject areas, including several increases in English Language Arts and mathematics at the elementary, middle and high school levels.
The Georgia Department of Education released testing results on Thursday.
Statewide, the percentage of students achieving the Proficient Learner level and above increased or held steady on 18 of 26 End of Grade and End of Course assessments. Where scores decreased, they did so by three percentage points or less, while scores that increased did so by as many as 12 percentage points. Students who achieve the Proficient Learner designation are considered on track to being college- and career-ready.
“Our students’ performance continues to trend upward, and some of these gains are particularly encouraging,” State School Superintendent Richard Woods said. “Seeing scores increase in areas like third-grade ELA and math, while also seeing large jumps in subjects like American Literature, affirms that we’re on the right path as we focus on foundational skills and early literacy and numeracy, both of which equip students for success in the later grades.”
“Of course, we still have work to do. Three years ago, we asked our teachers and students to clear a much higher bar when Georgia introduced its new assessment system. We are making progress and that progress will continue as we refine our focus on the services and supports schools need to provide the best possible education for all students.”
Students began taking Georgia Milestones assessments in 2014-15.
Georgia law requires a comprehensive summative assessment program in grades three through 12, including End of Grade assessments in English language arts and mathematics for grades three through eight, End of Grade assessments in science and social studies for grades five and eight, and End of Course assessments in designated core subjects for grades nine through 12. Those courses are: 9th grade Literature and Composition, American Literature and Composition, Algebra I or Coordinate Algebra, Geometry or Analytic Geometry, Biology, Physical Science, U.S. History, and Economics.
During the 2016-17 school year, fewer Georgia Milestones exams were required as a result of Senate Bill 364, which was signed into law in May 2016.
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