Milestones Results Show Improvement; Exceed State

The Georgia Department of Education released statewide results attained from the 2023-2024 Georgia Milestones assessments last Friday.

Jasper County Charter System results demonstrated scores that increased or held steady in 12 of 13 assessments in English language arts, science, and social studies. The results were compared to Georgia Milestones assessment results from the 2022-2023 school year.

Statewide, Georgia students showed continued improvement on the 2023-24 Georgia Milestones assessments – scores increased or held steady on 10 of 13 assessments in ELA, science, and social studies. Because math assessments were updated to align with the new K-12 Mathematics Standards first implemented during the 2023-24 school year, math Georgia Milestones scores will be available for release later this fall.

“As we begin a new school year this week, it was certainly great to see our performance increase throughout our system in multiple subjects. We will celebrate these gains hopefully building upon ensuring even greater student success as we move into the 2024-2025 school year,” said Supt. Kenny Garland. “Several areas achieved significant gains demonstrating our outstanding dedication and commitment from our students, faculty, and staff to ensure students are prepared for the future.”

The district also closed gaps in proficiency or exceeded state averages in 11 of 13 areas. Most notably, third grade proficiency levels in English language arts exceeded the state average (JCCS 38.5% to State 38.4%). This was a 12.8% increase in overall student proficiency as compared to the 2022-2023 results. Fourth and fifth grade English Language Arts proficiency levels improved by 7.4% and 9.6%.

At the middle school level, JCCS eighth grade students attained a 77.8% proficiency rate as compared to 50.8% for the previous year. Sixth grade English language arts in JCCS was 76.8% as compared to the state average of 65.6%.

High school United States history was 9.7% above the state proficiency (JCCS 48.4% to State 38.7%).

Students take the Georgia Milestones End of Grade (EOG) tests in grades 3-8 and Georgia Milestones End of Course (EOC) tests in identified high school courses. The Georgia Milestones Assessment System meets the federal requirement that states test students in math and ELA in grades 3-8 and once in high school, and in science once per grade band (3-5, 6-9, 10-12).

Georgia Milestones assesses student learning along four levels of achievement: Beginning Learners, Developing Learners, Proficient Learners, and Distinguished Learners.