CCSD Students Exceed State Averages, Improve Performance on Math Georgia Milestones

Cherokee County School District students topped state averages and improved performance on math sections of the Georgia Milestones End-of-Grade and End-of-Course tests, mirroring the success achieved in other subjects announced this summer.

The annual state exams administered each spring test students’ mastery of Georgia Performance Standards, which set expectations for what lessons students will learn in each grade.  Results for English language arts, social studies and science tests were released this summer, with math delayed until today due to new state standards for the subject.
                                   
“Congratulations to our students and teachers for this outstanding success – your efforts led to increases in six of the seven grade levels tested, which is extraordinary,” Superintendent of Schools Mary Elizabeth Davis said.  “Thank you to our dedicated teachers, who again demonstrated their incredible talent critical to our mission that students learn more, grow more, and achieve more in our classrooms than they could anywhere else.”

The newly released spring testing results are for students in grades 3-8 who took math End-of-Grade exams, as well as high school students and eighth-graders who took high school-level Algebra End-of-Course exams.  Parents soon will receive their child’s individual math exam scores.

Results measure students’ knowledge as Beginning, Developing, Proficient or Distinguished Learners.  When comparing CCSD student performance to 2023 scores, six of seven grade levels tested saw gains.  The only dip reported in CCSD was in third grade, which continued to exceed state averages.

For third grade, the percentage of CCSD students achieving the highest scores, Proficient to Distinguished, dipped to 55% from 59% in 2023; CCSD students’ scores exceeded state averages by 10%.

The percentage of CCSD fourth-graders earning the highest scores increased to 62%, up from 60% in 2023 and outscoring state averages by 14%.

For fifth grade, the percentage of CCSD students achieving the highest scores climbed to 56%, rising from 54% in 2023 and topping state averages by 15%. 

The percentage of CCSD sixth-graders earning the highest scores rose to 48%, up from 45% in 2023 and exceeding state averages by 13%.

For seventh grade, the percentage of CCSD students achieving the highest scores increased to 51%, rising from 45% and outscoring state averages by 13%.

The percentage of CCSD eighth-graders earning the highest scores climbed to 55%, rising from 47% in 2023 and exceeding state averages by 11%.  This eight-point gain was the largest jump among the six grade levels achieving increases. 

For high school Algebra, the percentage of CCSD students achieving the highest scores rose to 53%, up from 47% in 2023 and topping state averages by 9%.

Superintendent Davis said such success is achievable thanks to the School Board’s strong commitment to elevating the excellence in student performance.  The School Board this school year established its first shared districtwide goals for improving Milestones scores for reading proficiency and English language arts.  The School Board now will work together to set goals for increased student mastery of math learning standards.