Based on the recently released Georgia Milestones End-of-Course (EOC) and End-of-Grade (EOG) assessment data, Glynn County Schools saw positive gains in nearly every subject area, highlighting gradual progress toward academic recovery stalled by the pandemic.
Combined with the results of school districts across the state, Georgia students, as a whole, showed continued improvement on the 2022-2023 Georgia Milestones assessments, according to the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE). Scores increased or held steady on 13 of 21 assessments, compared to the 2021-2022 school year, with clear improvement displayed in the critical area of third-grade reading.
“I am pleased to see continued evidence of Georgia’s academic recovery in this year’s Georgia Milestones results,” State School Superintendent Richard Woods said. “Even for this year’s third graders, whose entire academic career has been impacted by the pandemic, we can see evidence of growth. It’s particularly encouraging to see increases in English Language Arts and literacy, especially in the early grades – given all we know about the importance of learning to read, and then reading to learn, by third grade. Of course, there is still work to do, and we will continue to invest in strategies to address lost learning opportunities.”
Several elementary schools in GCSS consistently performed in the upper 25 percent of elementary schools in the state with the majority of others showing outcomes within the top two-thirds of reporting schools.
St. Simons, Oglethorpe Point and Satilla Marsh elementary schools were among the highest ranked in Glynn County. St. Simons Elementary was ranked No. 143 in third-grade ELA and No. 118 in third-math out of 1,247 schools. Oglethorpe was ranked No. 153 in third-grade ELA, and Satilla Marsh was ranked No. 143 in third-grade math. Oglethorpe was ranked No. 21 out of 1,246 schools in fourth-grade ELA and No. 30 for fourth-grade math.
Oglethorpe was ranked No. 49 in fifth-grade ELA and No. 15 in fifth-grade math out of 1,241 school. St. Simons ranked No. 112 for fifth-grade ELA and No. 115 for fifth-grade math.
The consistency of curriculum is also noticed in elementary math results. As teachers gain strength in the implementation of Eureka instruction, the outcomes have improved. When compared to the state outcomes for Level 3 and 4, more GCSS schools showed movement into the top tiers of the rankings, said Dr. Valerie Whitehead, executive director of strategy and innovation for Glynn County Schools.
“We continue to see trends for increases in achievement as students move through the tested grades with an indication that students are responding to instruction at the level of the standard, even when those requirements continue to increase year to year,” Whitehead said.
“The middle school results provide comparisons within the upper two thirds of schools across the state with the same grade bands reported and, for the most part, you will notice a similar progression in achievement as students move through the grades with content-specific instruction.”
The two high schools have highlights in outcomes to show that students performed within the top 10-30% in tested content when looking at results for students at the Proficient and Distinguished levels. For End-of-Courses (EOCs), Glynn County Schools surpassed the state and RESA in Level 2-4 high school course assessments for ninth-grade literature, American literature, algebra I, geometry, biology, physical science, U.S. history and economics.
Most gains in the 2022-2023 Georgia Milestones scores occurred in ELA and mathematics and at the elementary and middle-school levels, while most declines occurred in science and social studies and at the high-school level. GaDOE is launching several new initiatives to ensure school districts have the resources they need to close these gaps.
About the test
Students began taking Georgia Milestones assessments in 2014-15. The testing system is one comprehensive program across grades 3-12, which includes open-ended questions to better gauge students’ content mastery.
Georgia Milestones assesses student learning along four levels of achievement:
Beginning Learners (Level 1) do not yet demonstrate proficiency in the knowledge and skills necessary at this grade level/course of learning, as specified in Georgia’s content standards. The students need substantial academic support to be prepared for the next grade level or course and to be on track for college and career readiness.
Developing Learners (Level 2) demonstrate partial proficiency in the knowledge and skills necessary at this grade level/course of learning, as specified by Georgia’s content standards. The students need additional academic support to ensure success in the next grade level or course and to be on track for college and career readiness.
Proficient Learners (Level 3) demonstrate proficiency in the knowledge and skills necessary at this grade level/course of learning, as specified in Georgia’s content standards. The students are prepared for the next grade level or course and are on track for college and career readiness.
Distinguished Learners (Level 4) demonstrate advanced proficiency in the knowledge and skills necessary at this grade level/course of learning, as specified in Georgia’s content standards. The students are well prepared for the next grade level or course and are well prepared for college and career readiness.