Clarke Schools Make Gains in CRCT Performances

The Clarke County School District showed gains in nearly every Criterion-Referenced Competency Test (CRCT) area in the report released today by the Georgia Department of Education. All students in grades 3-8 take the test each spring in the areas of reading, English/language arts, math, science and social studies.

“I am pleased that our students continue to make progress,” said Superintendent Philip D. Lanoue. “I want to commend our dedicated teachers for their belief that all students can achieve. Our school district community, including our parents, have worked to ensure the rigor reflected in the Common Core/Georgia Performance Standards results in higher levels of achievement."

Some highlights from this year’s results include:

• In 21 out of 30 subject areas and grades, the district is higher or equal to last year’s scores.
• In all grades except 3rd and 4th, students met/exceeded state reading standards at 90% or higher and increased scores from last year.
• In all grades except 6th, students met/exceeded state English/language arts standards at higher levels than last year.
• In 5th grade, scores increased in all areas except for math.
• In 6th grade, scores increased in all areas except for English/language arts.
• In 7th grade, scores increased in all areas except for social studies.
• In 8th grade, all scores increased.

Below are charts indicating the percentage of students that met/exceeded standards in each category. Those highlighted in green are higher or equal to last year’s scores.

Students took the CRCT for the last time this year. Beginning next year, all students in grades 3-8 will take the Georgia Milestones. The new testing system is one consistent program across grades 3-12, rather than a series of individual tests. It will include open-ended questions to gauge students’ content mastery and, with some exceptions for special education students with specific testing accommodations, will be administered entirely online by the fifth year of implementation.

Georgia Milestones will be aligned to the Common Core Georgia Performance Standards (CCGPS) in English/language arts and mathematics and Georgia Performance Standards (GPS) in science and social studies.

The school district will continue with its focus on targeted professional development aligned to the new Common Core Standards. Teachers will also participate in regular collaborative planning, while utilizing data to develop rigorous lessons. In addition, acceleration remains a priority.

— Submitted by Clarke County Schools