Georgia School Scores Drop in 2014; Forsyth Schools Continue Overall Improvement

Figures released by the Georgia Department of Education on Tuesday shows that schools across the state suffered drops in performance during the past school year, but Forsyth County Schools’ average performance increased slightly.

According to the data, the statewide score for the College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI) dropped from 2012-13’s 75.8 to 72 in the 2013-14 school year. The index measures each school’s performance through standardized test scores, efforts to close the achievement gap, the percentage of high-performing students with disabilities or who speak English as a second language, and other factors.

Statewide, the average score for elementary schools dipped from 77.8 to 72.6; scores for middle schools decreased from 74.6 to 73.2, and high schools dipped below 70 for a score of 68.4 during the 2013-14 school year.

The news was better in Forsyth County, however. District specific data shows the average score for the district increased from 89.4 to 89.8 during the same time period. Elementary schools saw their average scores jump from 88.7 to 90, and high schools increased their score from 85.5 to 85.7. Middle schools saw a slight drop, from 91.6 to 91.5.

Forsyth schools lost ground on the Exceeding The Bar (ETB) scores, which award extra points to schools who perform exceptionally well, close achievement gaps, and have high levels of disadvantaged students. Average ETB scores for elementary schools fell from 1.1 to 0.8 and from 1.3 to 1.0 for middle schools, while high schools improved from 0.0 to 0.2.

Forsyth County elementary schools which earned ETB points are as follows:

• Big Creek - 1.5
• Brookwood - 0.5
• Chestatee - 1.5
• Coal Mountain - 1.5
• Cumming - 1.0
• Whitlow - 1.0
• Johns Creek - 1.0
• Kelly Mill - 1.0
• Mashburn - 1.0
• Matt - 0.5
• Settles Bridge - 1.0
• Sharon - 1.5
• Shiloh Point - 1.5
• Silver City - 0.5

All county middle schools received 1 ETB point each, while the only Forsyth high schools to receive any ETB points were South Forsyth and Lambert.

For more information on the CCRPI, please visit the Georgia Department of Education’s website.