Metro Atlanta students’ success on the state’s mandatory reading test didn’t change much from last year, but there was wide variation in math results, according to the latest results on the Criterion Referenced Competency Tests.
The Georgia Department of Education released school district results Wednesday on the statewide tests taken this spring.
In the core metro Atlanta school districts, pass rates on the crucial reading portion of the Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests didn’t budge much from last year, though a few districts saw slight increases. Gwinnett and Cobb had some of the best reading results among metro districts, with 90 percent or more of test-takers in grades three through eight meeting or exceeding the state standards.
Students had less success in math, with the percentage of test-takers who passed ranging down to the 60s in some districts. There was also more variation from last year than there was in reading. Clayton results stood out: the district had a 9 percentage point drop in the pass rate among fifth graders and nearly a 6 percentage point drop among eighth graders.
More than 90 percent of Atlanta Public School students in grades six through eight passed reading, but nearly a third of the district’s third grade students failed math.
A passing score in the reading portion of the CRCTs is required to move automatically to the next grade for students in third, fifth and eighth grade. Students in fifth and eighth grade must also pass math.
The tests have been used for years to measure the performance of school districts and their schools. Statewide results were released earlier this month. The school-level results are expected in July. This was the last administration of the CRCTs, which will be replaced with a new exam, Georgia Milestones, in the upcoming school year.
State schools Superintendent John Barge praised the reading results.
“Reading is truly foundational to learning, so those increases in students exceeding standards are encouraging to see,” he said. “As we transition to tests that more accurately reflect our standards — and the emphasis those standards place on critical thinking and comprehension — students’ reading abilities will help them to excel.”
Atlanta Public Schools
The percentage of Atlanta Public Schools students passing high-stakes state reading and math tests in grades 3, 5, and 8 in general showed little change this year compared to last. That largely mirrors the two-year statewide trend.
State reading and math tests in grades 3, 5, and 8 are considered high-stakes because passing reading in 3rd grade and reading and math in 5th and 8th grades is generally required for promotion to the next grade.
APS passing rates in math continue to lag significantly behind passing rates for reading. That’s also in line with statewide trends. This year, nearly a quarter of APS 5th graders failed the state math test, compared to about 10 percent in reading.
And APS passing rates for non-high stakes tests—social studies, science, and English language arts—are significantly below those for reading and math.
But over the past four years, APS has seen increases in the percentages of students passing reading and math tests and other subjects in most grades. That too is similar to the state trend, though APS passing rates continue to lag the state average across the board.
“We’re seeing some improvement over one year,” APS Testing and Assessment Director Joe Blessing said. “We’re pleased with our improvement over three years. But Atlanta public schools definitely has a long way to go.”
Cobb County schools
The percentage of Cobb students meeting or exceeding the high-stakes state reading and math tests showed little change between this year and last — largely mirroring the two-year statewide trend.
More than 94 percent of third grade students in Cobb met or exceeded the state’s reading standards for this school year, while in fifth grade the number was 96.6. For eighth grade, it was about 98. All grades scored slightly higher than in 2013.
In math, nearly 84 percent of third grade students met or exceeded the state’s math standards for this school year, compared to 82 in 2013. In fifth grade, it was around 90 in 2014, down nearly two percentage points from the previous year. For eighth grade, the number for this year was 87, down more than a percentage point.
The CRCT, which will be replaced by a new standardized test next spring, is administered in grades three through eight in reading, English/language arts, math, science and social studies.
Fulton County Schools
Fulton County student Criterion-Referenced Competency Test results for this academic school year didn’t shift dramatically compared to last year, with the district making slight gains in reading and math.
The percentage of Fulton students meeting or exceeding the high-stakes state reading and math tests in general showed little change compared to last year. That largely reflects the two-year statewide trend.
About 94 percent of third grade students in Fulton met or exceeded the state’s reading standards for this school year, while in fifth grade the number was around 95. For eighth grade, it was about 97. The results were either slightly higher or remained stead, compared to 2013.
In math, nearly 84 percent of third grade students met or exceeded the state’s standards for this school year, compared to nearly 81 in 2013. In fifth grade, it was around 90 in 2014, up slightly from the previous year. For eighth grade, the number for this year was around 83, down nearly a percentage point.
The CRCT, which will be replaced by a new standardized test next spring, is administered in grades three through eight in reading, English/language arts, math, science and social studies.
Gwinnett County Schools
Nearly all Gwinnett students continued to either meet or exceed the state’s Criterion-Referenced Competency Test standards in the closely-monitored categories of math and reading, according to state education department released Wednesday.
More than 90 percent of fifth-graders and eighth-graders met or exceeded the tests in both subjects, the data showed. The percentage of eighth-graders who exceeded the CRCT reading standards rose from 56 percent for the 2012-13 school year to 67 percent for the 2013-14 school year.
The tests were taken in April.
Gwinnett officials noted higher percentages of their students exceeded the state standard than their peers statewide at all grade levels. Gwinnett has more students than any other district in Georgia.
District officials credited their effort to impose rigorous standards for students for the results.
DeKalb County Schools
Students in DeKalb County performed about the same as last year on statewide reading tests, but registered changes in math.
To move automatically up to the next grade, students in third, fifth and eighth grade must pass the reading portion of the Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests. Students in fifth and eighth grade must pass the math portion.
This year, 86 percent of third graders met or exceeded the reading standard, as did 89 percent of fifth graders and 91 percent of eighth graders. The biggest change from the prior year was in fifth grade, where there was a 2.8 percentage point increase in the number of students passing.
It was a different story in math, where there was more change in the key grades: the third grade pass rate rose by 2.9 percentage points, but fifth grade dropped 2.8 points and eighth was down 3.9 points. The actual math pass rates were low compared to reading, where the percent of students who met or exceeded the standards ranged from the high 80s to the low 90s. The pass rate in math was 68 percent for third graders, 76 percent for fifth graders and 65 percent for eighth graders.
The school district attributed the declines in math to a more demanding test, and said it will address the performance in that and other subjects with a variety of strategies that include teacher training and student practice.
“The CRCT indicated a need for more rigorous intervention in improving performance in mathematics, science, and social studies and we are responding with actions that will directly address this need,” Superintendent Michael Thurmond said in a written statement.
Clayton County Schools
Fewer Clayton County students met or exceeded standards for math on a statewide exam, according to Georgia Department of Education data released Wednesday.
For example, only 75 percent of fifth-graders met or exceeded the Criterion-Referenced Competency Test standards in math, the data showed. By comparison, about 84 percent of fifth-graders met or exceeded the CRCT math standards during the 2012-13 school year.
Nearly one-third of Clayton’s eighth-graders did not meet the CRCT math standards, the data showed. During the prior school year, 26 percent of Clayton’s eighth-graders did not meet the CRCT math standards.
The tests were administered in April.
There was some good news in the Clayton results. More than 40 percent of eighth-graders exceeded the reading standards. During the prior school year, 32 percent of eighth-graders exceeded the reading standards.
The Georgia Department of Education has posted the results on its website. Return to ajc.com for updates.
Staff writers Molly Bloom, Rose French and Eric Stirgus contributed to this story.
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