Georgia student test scores slightly higher in two areas

But 63 percent of state’s third-graders are below proficient in English.

The Georgia Department of Education released the latest results on Georgia’s state standardized Milestones tests Friday. The latest version shows slight gains in two key areas, when the results are averaged across the state.

The percentage of third-grade students scoring proficient or better on their English Language Arts exam last spring rose 0.9 percentage points.

The percentage of eighth-grad- ers who earned at least a proficient score on the math test rose 0.1 percentage points.

Despite the slight increases in the state average, just over a third of Georgia students have mastered those subjects by those crucial mileposts in their lives.

The average gains are slight, but some individual schools showed notable changes in adding students to the percentage who are proficient or better, or some saw the percentage of proficient students decline by double digits.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s website has all those scores by school district.

The subjects of the Milestones

tests are pegged to Georgia’s new academic standards. Its metrics are key because students are expected to master reading by third grade, so they can use that basic skill to learn all the other material that will come at them the rest of their academic careers.

There is similar thinking behind the need to master math by eighth grade. The difficult calculations start in high school, and without a solid foundation, students will struggle.

The Georgia Department of Education divides test performance into four tiers. The best performers are “distinguished,” followed by “proficient.” They are considered ready for the next grade.

“Developing” and “beginning” learners haven’t mastered what they need to know and will need help for future success. The beginners are in the worst spot, requiring “substantial” support.

Thirty-seven percent of third-graders in spring of 2018 were proficient or distinguished in English, which means 63 percent were not.

And in math, 34.5 percent of eighth-graders had mastered the subject, leaving 65.5 percent who will need help in high school just to get by.

State school Superintendent Richard Woods said the gradual improvements in English in math were seen in most subject areas. He attributed it to a new focus on “well-rounded” and “holistic” schooling. “Some of the areas we’ve focused heavily on, like fine arts and career education, aren’t directly tested on Georgia Milestones, but they have an enormous effect,” he said.