Falling in line with state results, Liberty County schools posted significant increases in criterion-referenced competency test scores this year, exciting educators across the area.
“CRCT test scores for Liberty County elementary and middle school students improved in 30 of 31 grade level comparison areas from spring 2008 to spring 2009 with one slight decrease in sixth grade reading,” Sandy Jones, director of curriculum and professional learning for Liberty County School System, said. “All other areas increased with the most dramatic increases occurring in third grade mathematics and third grade science with both having increases of 10 percent.”
Every year, students, grades 1-8 take the CRCTs in English, language arts, mathematics, science and social studies to ensure an understanding of the material before moving on to the next grade, while simultaneously evaluating the quality of education in each school.
In short, local teachers and students both have a lot riding on the tests. Now that results have come back positive, educators in the area are happy to see that months of work, extra tutoring sessions and preparations pay in the end. Jones said the results were even better than she could’ve imagined.
“Additionally, since the Georgia Department of Education breaks CRCT test scores down to three categories which are ‘did not meet,’ ‘meets’ and ‘exceeds,’ the system is excited to report [making the] ‘exceeds’ category in 22 grade level and subject area comparisons, [showing] gains in the percentage of students exceeding state standards,” Jones said.
As schools across the state made improvements in many areas, Kathy Cox, state superintendent, said the trend is due to a more rigorous curriculum that teachers and state DoE administrators have been working to integrate into public schools for three years.
“The 2009 CRCT results are very encouraging and show that our students are learning more advanced concepts and are able to apply that knowledge properly,” Cox said.
The state DoE reported the biggest state-wide gain was in eighth-grade math, an eight percent jump.
James said the LCSS also recently got news of more positive end-of-the year testing results.
“In addition, test scores for 11th grade first time test takers on the Georgia High School Graduation Test have risen from 71 percent of students passing all four portions in 2008 to 73 percent of students passing all four portions in 2009,” she said.
Scores for GHSGT include 88 percent pass rate for English, 91 percent for math, 87 percent for science and an 80 percent for social studies.
“CRCT test scores for Liberty County elementary and middle school students improved in 30 of 31 grade level comparison areas from spring 2008 to spring 2009 with one slight decrease in sixth grade reading,” Sandy Jones, director of curriculum and professional learning for Liberty County School System, said. “All other areas increased with the most dramatic increases occurring in third grade mathematics and third grade science with both having increases of 10 percent.”
Every year, students, grades 1-8 take the CRCTs in English, language arts, mathematics, science and social studies to ensure an understanding of the material before moving on to the next grade, while simultaneously evaluating the quality of education in each school.
In short, local teachers and students both have a lot riding on the tests. Now that results have come back positive, educators in the area are happy to see that months of work, extra tutoring sessions and preparations pay in the end. Jones said the results were even better than she could’ve imagined.
“Additionally, since the Georgia Department of Education breaks CRCT test scores down to three categories which are ‘did not meet,’ ‘meets’ and ‘exceeds,’ the system is excited to report [making the] ‘exceeds’ category in 22 grade level and subject area comparisons, [showing] gains in the percentage of students exceeding state standards,” Jones said.
As schools across the state made improvements in many areas, Kathy Cox, state superintendent, said the trend is due to a more rigorous curriculum that teachers and state DoE administrators have been working to integrate into public schools for three years.
“The 2009 CRCT results are very encouraging and show that our students are learning more advanced concepts and are able to apply that knowledge properly,” Cox said.
The state DoE reported the biggest state-wide gain was in eighth-grade math, an eight percent jump.
James said the LCSS also recently got news of more positive end-of-the year testing results.
“In addition, test scores for 11th grade first time test takers on the Georgia High School Graduation Test have risen from 71 percent of students passing all four portions in 2008 to 73 percent of students passing all four portions in 2009,” she said.
Scores for GHSGT include 88 percent pass rate for English, 91 percent for math, 87 percent for science and an 80 percent for social studies.