Georgia, Cobb School Scores Drop in 2014

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, including schools within the Cobb County School District.

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.

A similar drop was seen across Cobb, with the district’s average score dropping from 80.7 to 75.7 between the two academic years. Average elementary school scores dropped from from 80.6 to 74.9, middle school scores dropped from 82.9 to 73.9, and high school scores dropped from 77.4 to 76.9.

Cobb schools also 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 0.7 to 0.5 and from 0.5 to 0.1 for middle schools, while high schools improved from 0.3 to 0.6.

Cobb elementary schools which did not receive any ETB points during the 2013-14 school year are as follows:

• Addison
• Birney
• Bryant
• Chalker
• Clarkdale
• Davis
• Harmony-Leland
• International Academy of Smyrna
• Kennesaw
• Mount Bethel
• Murdock
• Nickajack
• Norton Park
• Powers Ferry
• Smyrna

Cobb middle schools which received ETB points during the 2013-14 school year are as follows:

• Durham - 0.5
• Floyd - 0.5
• Griffin - 1.0
• Hightower Trail - 0.5
• International Academy of Smyrna - 0.5
• Pine Mountain - 0.5
• Tapp - 0.5

The only Cobb high schools which failed to net any ETB points in 2013-14 were Osborne and Pebblebrook.

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