Special Message From Supt. Bradley: State Test Data Offers Promising Results for Consecutive Years
Dear Newton County Schools Families and Staff,
I am writing to share a bit of exciting news! According to 2024-2025 Milestones Assessment data released by the Georgia Department of Education, Newton County Schools has shown yet another year of encouraging growth across multiple grade levels and subject areas. This marks the second consecutive year of district-wide academic improvement, and is a clear sign that the work we’re doing together is paying off.
Annually, students in grades 3–12 are tested in core academic subjects, and for the 2024-2025 school-year, our district showed improvement in 10 out of 20 (half) of the state’s tested subject areas. In many schools, we saw double-digit increases in the number of students scoring at the Developing and Proficient levels.
While we still have much more work to do, these results are even more meaningful considering that we have not yet fully launched our academic improvement initiatives. Our progress so far has come from a sharper academic focus, more aligned classroom expectations, and better support for our school leaders.
For reference, allow me to highlight a few grade band and school-level successes:
- Elementary Schools outpaced the state in 3rd grade ELA, 3rd grade math, and 5th grade science. West Newton Elementary led the district with a 25-point gain in math proficiency, while Rocky Plains, South Salem, and West Newton also posted noteworthy growth across multiple subjects.
- Middle Schools saw some of our strongest gains, particularly in 7th grade. Cousins Middle School increased by 14 points in ELA, 12 points in math, and an impressive 27 points in 8th grade social studies. Clements and Indian Creek Middle Schools also recorded double-digit gains in various areas.
- High Schools produced meaningful growth as well, with all three (Alcovy, Newton, and Eastside) improving in Algebra Concepts and Connections (formerly Algebra I). High schools also outpaced the state in both Algebra and Biology.
I am convinced that our results are symbolic of what can happen when everyone pulls in the same direction. Our teachers are showing tremendous skill in delivering instruction, our principals are laser-focused on academic outcomes, and our support staff and central office teams are doing critical behind-the-scenes work.
I also want to acknowledge our Board of Education for its vision and leadership. Collectively, they have helped lay the groundwork for long-term improvement. Still, we must center ourselves on the reality that our journey is just beginning, and there is much more to be done. Nonetheless, our continued momentum is something to be proud of. Congratulations!
Sincerely,
Duke
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