Fifth-graders in Marietta's schools improved their performance in every subject in this year's Georgia Milestones standardized tests and did better than most students in that grade statewide. Although Marietta's elementary students on all grade levels generally outperformed their peers statewide in language arts, math, science and social studies, more than half did not score high enough to be categorized as "proficient" or "distinguished."

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In high school, the only subjects where more of Marietta’s test-takers than their statewide peer group ranked proficient were American literature and composition (48.1 percent compared to 43 percent statewide), and physical science (38.5 compared to 34 percent).

There were no subjects where most Marietta high school students showed proficiency, however. In biology, for example, only 30.1 percent did and in Algebra I only 31 percent.

Students are ranked in one of four categories in each tested subject: beginning learners have failed to grasp the fundamentals and will require “substantial” help to catch up; developing learners are almost there but still need help to get on track; proficient students have mastered the basics; distinguished students are the top performers.

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