Students in metro Atlanta school districts didn’t fare as well on the math portion of the Georgia High School Graduation Test, mirroring a statewide drop that’s blamed on the controversial switch to integrated math.
District-by-district scores released Friday showed fewer metro students passed the math portion of the exam, which is one of five parts necessary to earn a diploma. Atlanta Public Schools showed the biggest drop in the percentage of passing students, 17 points; Cobb showed the least, 1 percentage point.
Current high school juniors have been taught integrated math since 2006. But this is the first year the graduation exam tested them on the new format, which meshes algebra, geometry and statistics in a single course. In March, the state Board of Education voted to give districts the option of teaching math traditionally, one subject at a time.
The high-stakes graduation test is also on the way out: Starting next year, all students except incoming freshman can opt to take end-of-course test instead. Freshman and students that follow will only take the end-of-course, which will count more heavily.
The English language arts and mathematics portions are used to calculate Adequate Yearly Progress as required by federal law.
Students take the graduation tests for the first time in the spring of 11th grade in English, math, science and social studies. The writing exam is given in the the fall.
Search our database to find out how your teen's school district did on the Georgia High School Graduation Tests.
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