The Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) has released Newton County School System’s (NCSS) results from the 2018-19 administration of the Georgia Milestones Assessment System (Georgia Milestones End-of-Grade (EOG) in grades 3-8 and Georgia Milestones End-of-Course (EOC) in grades 9-12).
Student learning is measured on the Georgia Milestones along four levels of performance: Beginning, Developing, Proficient, and Distinguished. These following designations focus on capturing the progression of student learning and aim to shift the focus away from the reporting of test scores only:
•
Beginning Learners do not yet demonstrate proficiency in the knowledge and skills necessary at this grade level/course of learning, as specified in Georgia’s content standards. The students need substantial academic support to be prepared for the next grade level or course and to be on track for college and career readiness.
•
Developing Learners demonstrate partial proficiency in the knowledge and skills necessary at this grade level/course of learning, as specified by Georgia’s content standards. The students need additional academic support to ensure success in the next grade level or course and to be on track for college and career readiness.
•
Proficient Learners demonstrate proficiency in the knowledge and skills necessary at this grade level/course of learning, as specified in Georgia’s content standards. The students are prepared for the next grade level or course and are on track for college and career readiness.
•
Distinguished Learners demonstrate advanced proficiency in the knowledge and skills necessary at this grade level/course of learning, as specified in Georgia’s content standards. The students are well prepared for the next grade level or course and are well prepared for college and career readiness.
In addition to multiple choice, Georgia Milestones includes constructed response and extended response items that require students to generate, rather than select, responses. The system also assesses writing at each grade level/course.
“While we are not yet where we wish to be with regard to our state assessment results, we continue to make progress,” said Samantha Fuhrey, superintendent of Newton County School System. “We will continue to strive for excellence as we begin the 2019-2020 school year.”
See below for highlights of the 2019 NCSS Georgia Milestones Assessments:
Elementary End-of-Grade Assessment Highlights:
•
Third Grade: Seven elementary schools matched or surpassed the state in English Language Arts, including East Newton, Heard-Mixon, Livingston, Mansfield, Newton County Theme, Oak Hill, and Rocky Plains. In addition, five schools—East Newton, Livingston, Mansfield, Newton County Theme, and Rocky Plains outperformed the state in mathematics.
In terms of improvement, five elementary schools—Flint Hill, Livingston, Oak Hill, South Salem, and West Newton—increased their pass rates in English language arts from the previous school year; Rocky Plains maintained their pass rate in 2019. In addition, four schools improved their math scores in 2019, including East Newton, Flint Hill, Livingston, and West Newton.
•
Fourth Grade: Five elementary schools—East Newton, Fairview, Newton County Theme, Oak Hill, and Rocky Plains—bested the state in English Language Arts and five schools equaled or Georgia in mathematics, including: East Newton, Heard-Mixon, Mansfield, Newton County Theme, and Oak Hill.
Five schools maintained or improved pass rates in fourth-grade English language arts, including—Fairview, Flint Hill, Livingston, Middle Ridge, and Porterdale while three schools increased or maintained their pass rates in mathematics, including Fairview, Mansfield, and Oak Hill.
•
Fifth Grade: East Newton, Mansfield, and the Newton County Theme School all matched or outperformed the state in English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies in 2019. Fairview and Oak Hill also outperformed the state in English language arts and Heard-Mixon and Rocky Plains outperformed the state in math as well. Heard-Mixon also bested the state in science and social studies while Oak Hill and Rocky Plains outpaced the state in social studies.
In terms of improvement, Fairview, Live Oak, Rocky Plains, and South Salem posted increased pass rates in English language arts and Newton County Theme School maintained their pass percentage in 2019. In mathematics, eight elementary schools posted increased pass rates in 2019, including Fairview, Heard-Mixon, Live Oak, Livingston, Newton County Theme, Rocky Plains, South Salem, and West Newton. In science, six schools saw increased pass rates—Fairview, Heard-Mixon, Porterdale, Rocky Plains, South Salem, and West Newton. Finally, in social studies, twelve schools matched or improved their pass rates in 2019—East Newton, Fairview, Flint Hill, Heard-Mixon, Live Oak, Mansfield, Newton County Theme, Oak Hill, Porterdale, Rocky Plains, South Salem, and West Newton.
Middle School End-of-Grade Assessment Highlights:
•
Sixth Grade: Newton County Theme School topped the state pass rate in both English language arts and mathematics. Five middle schools, including Clements, Cousins, Indian Creek, Liberty, and Veterans Memorial posted improved pass rates in English language arts in 2019. In addition, Clements, Indian Creek, and Veterans Memorial also posted increased pass percentages in mathematics last year.
•
Seventh Grade: Newton County Theme surpassed the state pass rate in English language arts in 2019. Both Newton County Theme School and Indian Creek raised their pass percentage in English language arts last year. Three schools—Indian Creek, Newton County Theme, and Veterans Memorial—posted gains on their pass percentage in mathematics in 2019.
•
Eighth Grade: Newton County Theme School bested the state in each subject category. The school also posted 100 percent pass rates in mathematics. Liberty Middle School matched or exceeded the state pass rate in mathematics, science, and social studies in 2019. Cousins also surpassed the state in social studies last year.
In terms of improvement, Liberty and Veterans Memorial posted improved pass rates in mathematics while Newton County Theme maintained their perfect pass percentage on the test. Clements, Indian Creek, Liberty, and Veterans Memorial all showed improvement in science; Clements, Cousins, Indian Creek, Liberty, and Veterans Memorial improved in social studies.
Students in eighth grade who participated in physical science and high school algebra courses demonstrated progress in 2019. In fact, all middle schools—Clements, Cousins, Indian Creek, Liberty, Newton County Theme, and Veterans Memorial posted a 100 percent pass percentage on algebra 1. Clements, Cousins, Liberty, Newton County Theme, and Veterans Memorial maintained or increased their pass percentage on the physical science test and all middle schools posted a 95 percent or better pass rate on the test.
High School End-of-Course Assessment Highlights:
• Eastside High School matched or bested the state pass rate in ninth grade literature, American literature, geometry, biology, physical science, U.S. history, and economics. In terms of improvement, Alcovy posted increased pass rates in ninth grade literature, geometry, physical and science while Eastside saw increased pass rates in American literature while maintaining their pass percentage in both algebra I and U.S. history. Newton High posted an increased pass rate in geometry.
“It is important to remember that our students are much more than a number generated by any one assessment given at any one moment in time,” said Fuhrey. “Our students, throughout the school year, have achieved many milestones that are not captured by our state’s assessment. For instance, the graduating class of 2019 earned approximately $50 million in academic, athletic, and fine arts scholarships. We closely analyze and monitor multiple indicators, including Milestones data, to determine the progress that our students make as they matriculate through the school system and the need to adjust our practices to better serve our students. It is our vision to ensure all students are well-rounded and prepared for the future.”
She added, “We also administer the nationally-normed Iowa Assessments to provide teachers and leaders with relevant, real-time achievement information. The resulting data has been instrumental in providing a reliable, valid national perspective regarding our students’ achievement, demonstrating growth over the course of one academic year, and providing parents, teachers, and schools with actionable reports within 24-48 hours of the assessment administration. Our NCSS Iowa Assessments have demonstrated improvement from the pre-test administration given in August to the post-test administration in May. I am proud of the hard work, dedication, and focus of our teachers and leaders. They continue to work diligently to prepare students for life beyond high school, and I look forward to all that our students will accomplish in the 2019-2020 school year!”
For more information on Newton County School System’s 2018-2019 Georgia Milestones Results, contact Dr. Allison Jordan, NCSS Director of Testing, Research, and Evaluation, at
[email protected].
###