Cherokee Schools Continues To Top State Averages On GA Milestones

CHEROKEE COUNTY, GA — Cherokee County School District students topped State averages on the Georgia Milestones End-of-Grade and End-of-Course tests for the fifth consecutive year, with important gains in early literacy and math.

The test assess students’ mastery of Georgia Performance Standards, which set expectations for what lessons students will learn in each grade. Students in Grades 3-8 take Milestones End-of-Grade exams every spring in select core subjects; high school students in specific courses (and eighth-graders taking the classes for high school credit) take Milestones End-of-Course exams. Parents will receive their children’s scores next month.

“We’re proud of the hard work by students and teachers that led to these positive results. We value accountability as an important tool for continuous improvement in teaching and learning, but tests are not what drive us,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower said. “Our children are not data points. We want them to master core academics, but we also want them to explore the arts, learn job and life skills, have fun, and become the best people they can be.”

Differing groups of students affect year-to-year change within a grade level, but CCSD’s performance continued to improve overall. Results measure students’ knowledge as Beginning, Developing, Proficient or Distinguished Learners; the results include English Language Learners and students who receive Special Education services.

For third-grade, the percentage of CCSD students achieving the highest two levels of scores — Proficient to Distinguished — was: 69 percent for Math (as compared to 52 percent for Georgia) and 50 percent for English Language Arts (42 percent Georgia).

For fifth-grade, the percentage of CCSD students achieving Proficient to Distinguished scores was: 57 percent for Math (41 percent Georgia), 58 percent for English Language Arts (45 percent Georgia), 51 percent for Science (43 percent Georgia) and 42 percent for Social Studies (31 percent Georgia).

For eighth-grade, the percentage of CCSD students achieving Proficient to Distinguished scores was: 62 percent for English Language Arts (47 percent Georgia), 42 percent for Math (35 percent Georgia), 36 percent for Science (32 percent Georgia) and 52 percent for Social Studies (41 percent Georgia).

For high school credit courses, the percentage of CCSD students achieving Proficient to Distinguished scores was: 71 percent for 9th Grade Literature and Composition (61 percent Georgia), 59 percent for American Literature and Composition (47 percent for Georgia), 51 percent for Algebra I (41 percent Georgia), 57 percent for Geometry (41 percent Georgia), 60 percent for Biology (49 percent Georgia), 59 percent for Physical Science (47 percent Georgia), 64 percent for U.S. History (48 percent Georgia) and 66 percent for Economics (48 percent Georgia).

Another measure captured by Milestones is the percentage of students reading on grade level. Results show that 83 percent of CCSD eighth-graders are reading at or above grade level (compared to 74 percent statewide); as are 82 percent of CCSD fifth-graders (73 percent statewide); and 79 percent of CCSD third-graders (73 percent statewide). At the high school level, 87 percent of CCSD ninth-graders demonstrated reading skills at or above grade level (83 percent statewide), as did 84 percent of students taking American Literature, typically 11th-graders (75 percent statewide).

Milestones results are used by teachers and administrators to improve instruction for specific students as well as develop new strategies for the success of classes overall.

Hightower said he’s very pleased with elementary school gains in English Language Arts and Math, which reflect CCSD’s increased investment in those subjects through new instructional resources, professional development and teacher support through the creation of Instructional Lead Strategist coaching positions. The percentage of students earning Proficient to Distinguished scores on these tests increased from 1 to 7 points across all grade levels.

“We want to see our students’ knowledge grow in every class throughout their CCSD career, but the most important achievement is early literacy,” Hightower said. “Mastering reading and writing skills impacts children’s success throughout their lives, and I’m so grateful for the investment of our School Board and the dedication of our teachers and administrators.”

Note: Cherokee Charter Academy is not a part of CCSD.