CCSD Students Exceed State On Georgia Milestones Tests

WOODSTOCK, GA — Students in the Cherokee County School District continue to exceed statewide averages on the Georgia Milestones End-of-Grade and End-of-Course tests, the school system said. This is the fourth consecutive year CCSD has surpassed the state on the tests since they were implemented to measure mastery of the Georgia Performance Standards.

Students in Grades 3-8 take Milestones End-of-Grade exams every spring in select core subjects; high school students in specific courses take Milestones End-of-Course exams (eighth-graders enrolled in the classes for high school credit also take these exams). Parents will receive scores for their children in August.

Although differing groups of students affect year-to-year change within a grade level, CCSD’s performance improved overall. The results will be closely reviewed at the district and school level to make improvements in overall practices and at the classroom level to help each individual student. Results show the percentages of students classified as Beginning, Developing, Proficient or Distinguished Learners; these percentages also include English Language Learners and students who receive Special Education services.

“We are focused on increasing students’ mastery of the knowledge and skills they will need to succeed in college, career and life,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian Hightower said. “These Milestones results show our students and teachers are consistently and successfully getting the job done. I’m so proud of them, their families and our partners and volunteers — we’re in this together with the same goal: making our community’s future the best it can be.”

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For third-grade, the percentage of CCSD students achieving Developing to Distinguished scores was: 90 percent for Math (as compared to 83 percent for Georgia) and 76 percent for English Language Arts (67 percent Georgia).

For fifth-grade, the percentage of CCSD students achieving Developing to Distinguished scores was: 85 percent for Math (75 percent Georgia), 84 percent for English Language Arts (76 percent Georgia), 79 percent for Science (70 percent Georgia) and 84 percent for Social Studies (76 percent Georgia).

For eighth-grade, the percentage of CCSD students achieving Developing to Distinguished scores was: 87 percent for Math (79 percent Georgia), 87 percent for English Language Arts (79 percent Georgia), 78 percent for Science (68 percent Georgia) and 84 percent for Social Studies (77 percent Georgia) — these totals include eighth-graders in high school credit classes with EOC exams.

For high school credit courses, the percentage of CCSD students achieving Developing to Distinguished scores was: 88 percent for 9th Grade Literature and Composition (84 percent Georgia), 89 percent for American Literature and Composition (81 percent for Georgia), 84 percent for Algebra I (71 percent Georgia), 83 percent for Geometry (74 percent Georgia), 86 percent for Biology (70 percent Georgia), 83 percent for Physical Science (67 percent Georgia), 87 percent for U.S. History (75 percent Georgia) and 89 percent for Economics (72 percent for Georgia).

Dr. Hightower said he’s very pleased with increasing levels in students earning the top Distinguished learner status in Algebra I, Biology, Physical Science and U.S History, and CCSD’s climb in national rankings.

“These results put CCSD high school students in the top 15 percent in the nation for Algebra I mastery, the top 20 percent for Geometry and Biology, and the top 25 percent for Physical Science, which is great movement in the right direction,” Dr. Hightower said. “We’re committed to seeing our students’ performance in the top 10 percent. The recent investments our School Board has made in curriculum and instruction resources and support staff, and the commitment our teachers have made to improving their skills, will get us there.”

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