Many were shocked recently to hear a stark drop in standardized test scores within the Gilmer County School System.

FYN sat down to go over these test scores and look at what this means for the school system. The documented results for the GA Milestones test, a new test that has only been used in this one school year, vary wildly from the previous test, the Gilmer Schools System has used CRCT (Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests) & EOCT (End of Course Tests).

Dig deeper into the test results and you will see the shocking drop in testing scores. A drop in 3rd grade reading from 89.8% to 62% of the class being proficient or a drop in 7th grade math from 91.07% to 35% of class being proficient might make you question how or why this happened.

Test changes like this not only change the focus that schools must give to specific areas of subjects, but this test holds such a standard that the entire state of Georgia has scored, on average, to only have a third of their students proficient in these exams.

It is also of note that these were tests given at the end of courses and end of grades during the last school year and we have just now received the results.

More specifically, though, this test was the first one of these given. The State Department of Education has even declared this first exam “whole hold harmless,” which means they were not used for grade advancement and were instead used as a baseline data year. It is to be set as a ruler to gauge future tests off of.

What I would like to look closer at would be on page 3 of the results. In the 2014-2015 year, the Gilmer High School Graduation Percentage for 4-year Cohorts was at 91.48. About 91% Graduation Rate for the county that is ranking closer to between 20-40% proficiency in most of its grades seems to show a break somewhere.

This Milestones test ranks students into the four categories for the assessment. According to a letter from Fannin County Superintendent Mark Henson, these ranks include:

-Beginning Learners: These students do net yet demonstrate proficiency in the knowledge and skills necessary for this course of learning, as specified in Georgia’s content standards. These 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: These students demonstrate partial proficiency in the knowledge and skills necessary for this course of learning, as specified by Georgia’s content standards. These 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: These students demonstrate proficiency in the knowledge and skills necessary for this course of learning, as specified in Georgia’s content standards. These students are prepared for the next grade level or course and are on track for college or career readiness.

Distinguished Learners: These students demonstrate advanced proficiency in the knowledge and skills necessary for this course of learning, as specified in Georgia’s content standards. These students are well prepared for the next grade level or course and are prepared for the college and career readiness.

You can find Mr. Henson’s letter and Gilmer Schools Superintendent Dr. Shanna Wilkes letter for more information.

Also, check out the state materials for the Milestones Test (pg 1, pg 2)and Frequent Questions (pg 1, pg 2, pg 3) for that test for some of the State’s Answers.