Cherokee Students Exceed State Averages on Milestones Tests

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Cherokee County School District students exceeded state averages on the 2015 Georgia Milestones End-of-Grade and End-of-Course test, the system said Tuesday.

It’s the first year that new, more challenging state exams were administered.

The tests, which are used to assess the mastery of Georgia Performance Standards, will be administered every spring in Grades 3-8 in the subjects of English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies and for middle and high school students taking courses for high school credit.

Milestones exams include open-ended questions to better assess a student’s content mastery; and, with some exceptions for special education students with specific testing accommodations, the tests will be administered entirely online to students statewide within five years.

The school district already met the state’s five-year goal in this first round of tests for all students except those taking the third-grade English Language Arts test, which will be added to its online system this spring.

While Milestones’ Achievement Levels are reported as percentages of students who are Beginning, Developing, Proficient or Distinguished Learners, it should be noted that these percentages also include English Language Learners and students who receive Special Education services.

Also, these percentages cannot be compared to results for the Georgia Criterion Referenced Competency Tests that were administered in past years, due to significant differences in the exams and student performance expectations.

For third-grade, the percentage of district students achieving Developing to Distinguished scores was: 75 percent for English Language Arts (as compared to 66 percent for Georgia), 83 percent for Math (79 percent Georgia), 81 percent for Science (75 percent Georgia) and 78 percent for Social Studies (74 percent Georgia).

For fifth-grade, the percentage of CCSD students achieving Developing to Distinguished scores was: 79 percent for English Language Arts (73 percent Georgia), 84 percent for Math (74 percent Georgia), 77 percent for Science (70 percent Georgia) and 80 percent for Social Studies (75 percent Georgia).

For eighth-grade, the percentage of district students achieving Developing to Distinguished scores was: 86 percent for English Language Arts (76 percent Georgia), 86 percent for Math (75 percent Georgia), 74 percent for Science (62 percent Georgia) and 81 percent for Social Studies (71 percent Georgia).

For high school credit courses, the percentage of school district students achieving Developing to Distinguished scores was: 89 percent for Ninth Grade Literature and Composition (76 percent Georgia), 89 percent for American Literature and Composition (76 percent for Georgia), 86 percent for Coordinate Algebra (69 percent Georgia), 81 percent for Analytic Geometry (65 percent Georgia), 79 percent for Biology (63 percent Georgia), 76 percent for Physical Science (65 percent Georgia), 86 percent for U.S. History (74 percent Georgia) and 81 percent for Economics (69 percent Georgia).

The state also compared select Milestones responses to the performance of students Nationwide; and district students scored on average exceptionally well in comparison.

The Milestones results, which parents will receive for their own child next month, also include an assessment as to whether a child is reading at grade level. For third-grade, the percentages of CCSD students reading on or above grade level was: 77 percent (69 percent Georgia); fifth-grade, 75 percent (66 percent Georgia); and eighth-grade, 85 percent (71 percent Georgia).

Leadership teams at both district and school levels will closely review these scores to determine needed adjustments in teaching and learning, as well as in strategic planning tools (such as School Improvement Plans), to ensure that students are mastering Georgia Performance Standards.

Just as with the GCRCT, Milestones End-of-Grade scores, beginning with the 2015-16 administration, will help teachers and administrators determine if students are ready to be promoted to the next grade. Additionally, results from this administration will be counted toward calculation of CCSD’s College and Career Ready Performance Index scores, which comprise the state’s new accountability system.

“We commend our students, teachers and administrators for their performance on these new tests, which required everyone involved to increase their efforts to achieve success,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank Petruzielo said. “Teaching and learning is our primary mission; and we are committed to ensuring that each child learns the knowledge necessary for success in their next step, whether that be the next grade in school, enrolling in college or launching their career.”

See the attached charts for a detailed breakdown of student results based on grade level and subject areas.

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