NOTE: The news media and public should not make year-to-year comparisons using the state-level data, due to changes in students’ learning environments and differences in participation. In general, year-to-year comparisons should not be made using school- and district-level data.
Georgia Milestones test scores were released today for Newton County Schools and the state. These scores should be interpreted in context due to the interruptions and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The information released today serves to establish new baseline data and cannot be compared to previous Georgia Milestones Assessments.
The Georgia Department of Education is encouraging educators, parents, and communities to remember that the Georgia Milestones tests were designed to measure the performance of students in a typical educational environment, so results should be interpreted in the context of the pandemic and associated learning disruptions, along with varying access to instruction.
NCSS results are listed below:
Percent Developing and Above (Levels 2-4)
|
|
ELA |
|
Math |
|
Science |
|
Social Studies |
3rd |
|
50 |
|
67 |
|
|
|
|
4th |
|
56 |
|
63 |
|
|
|
|
5th |
|
65 |
|
45 |
|
52 |
|
|
6th |
|
52 |
|
45 |
|
|
|
|
7th |
|
57 |
|
58 |
|
|
|
|
8th |
|
67 |
|
51 |
|
45 |
|
61 |
Percent Developing and Above (Levels 2-4)
|
|
NCSS |
American Lit |
|
74 |
Algebra I |
|
44 |
Biology |
|
48 |
US History |
|
60 |
“The 2021-2022 school year was a challenging one for both students and school staff,” said Samantha Fuhrey, Superintendent of Newton County School System. “The results are baseline and indicate clearly that we have work to do for all of our students to experience increased outcomes by the end of the 2022-2023 school year.”
She added, “We believed that the 2021-2022 school year would have been more stable than the previous year, but unfortunately, many of our teachers were impacted by illness and many students experienced quarantines, away from school, on multiple occasions; the educational experience continued to be interrupted last school year due to the ongoing challenges created by the pandemic. It is important to note that this was the first time many of our students participated in high-stakes assessments since the onset of the pandemic. That said, we are thrilled to have this baseline data to guide our efforts for this school year. It’s going to take time to fill the gaps in our students’ learning, but we are dedicated and committed to working hard to equip our students to be well-rounded and prepared for the future. I am confident that with the continuing help, support, and guidance of our dedicated teachers, school leaders, and support staff, our students will have great success this school year. We are excited to finally have meaningful data aligned to state curricula and have already begun the process of identifying areas of opportunity for our students to receive additional support. We look forward to collaborating with our parents as we work to meet the needs of all students.”
While test scores provide information on students’ performance, they are not the only way we measure and monitor student learning throughout the course of the school year. The Newton County School System strives to respond to students’ academic performance in meaningful, timely, and substantive ways. The district has a formative assessment plan, which includes school-level assessments. These ongoing formative assessments provide information regarding a student’s performance as he or she works through the Georgia Standards of Excellence. Additionally, the district administers the IOWA test as a universal screener at the beginning of the school year, which provides diagnostic and prescriptive data to classroom teachers. To respond to gaps in learning, schools are implementing high-frequency tutoring programs and utilizing academic intervention paraprofessionals who have been assigned to each school. Additionally, academic enrichment programs across all grades were held during the summer and will continue each year as necessary. Finally, the district continues to bolster its Multi-Tiered System of Supports program at each school.
Students take Georgia Milestones End of Grade (EOG) tests in grades three through eight and End of Course (EOC) tests in identified high school courses. The Georgia Milestones assessment system meets the federal requirement that states test students in math and ELA in grades 3-8 and once in high school, and in science once per grade band (3-5, 6-8, 9-12).