Woodstock, Towne Lake Students Excel on Georgia Writing Test

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Cherokee County School District students continue to surpass their classmates across the state on the Georgia High School Writing Test.

Ninety nine percent of the district’s 11th grade students aced the test on their first attempt, the district said on Monday.

Students in the 11th grade must pass the two-hour test in order to show mastery of essential writing skills and earn a regular education diploma. This is the last year for the writing test, as student writing will be evaluated in the future by the Georgia Milestones Assessment System.

Each test is scored by two Georgia Center for Assessment readers, who independently rate the responses to persuasive writing prompts on four domains of writing.

The test is administered three times a year so that students have multiple opportunities to pass it before the end of the 12th grade. Teachers have access to their students’ scores to plan appropriate instruction based on strengths and weaknesses for those who did not initially pass the test.

The percentage of the district’s 2,567 11th grade, first-time regular program test-takers passing the fall 2014 test is 99 percent. That figure is the same as the district’s 2013 rate and exceeds the state’s 2014 rate of 96 percent.

Additionally, as shown below, all district high schools exceeded Georgia’s rate. The performance of school district students with disabilities also significantly exceeded state results, with 91 percent passing, as compared to the state’s rate of 79 percent.

• Georgia: 96 percent
• Cherokee County School District: 99 percent
• Cherokee High School: 98 percent
• Creekview High School: 98 percent
• Etowah High School: 99 percent
• River Ridge High School: 100 percent
• Sequoyah High School: 98 percent
• Woodstock High School: 99 percent

“These results, following the recent release of continued outstanding scores on the SAT and ACT, further strengthen CCSD’s reputation as a teaching and learning institution where every child receives an outstanding education,” Cherokee County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank Petruzielo said. “This success is a result of not only the dedication and determination shown by our students, but also by teachers, administrators, support staff, parents, volunteers, local businesses and everyone in our community who advocates for our public schools.”

The superintendent went on to say district schools continue to overcome obstacles to ”ensure that each student has the opportunity to exceed expectations and be as prepared as possible for the challenges of college and careers.”