Milestones test results show student gains, shortcomings in achievement

Results from Georgia Milestones tests released Thursday showed that statewide, students’ scores were better or remained steady in most areas of the exam, according to the state Department of Education.

While Bibb County students as a whole showed an increase in the percentage of students reading at or above grade level, Macon’s Cirrus Academy charter school lagged behind other elementary and middle schools in most every grade in both English Language Arts and math.

Cirrus opened last year, so 2017 was the first year that its students took the Milestones test.

Only about 9 percent of third-graders at Cirrus returned results as “proficient” or “distinguished” learners in English Language Arts, compared with 20.9 percent in Bibb schools and 42.4 in Houston County schools.

Georgia Milestones assesses student learning using four levels of achievement in hopes of better showing the progression of student learning:

▪  “Beginning learners” don’t yet demonstrate proficiency at grade level and need substantial academic support to be prepared for the next grade level;

▪  “Developing learners” show partial proficiency at grade level and need additional academic support to ensure success at the next grade level;

▪  “Proficient learners” demonstrate proficiency at grade level and are prepared for the next grade;

▪  “Distinguished learners” show advanced proficiency at grade level and are well prepared for the next grade.

In math, just 3.7 percent of Cirrus’ third-graders were deemed “proficient” or distinguished” learners, as compared with 25.4 percent in Bibb County and 38 percent in Houston County.

However, more Cirrus sixth-graders returned “proficient” or “distinguished” learner results in English Language Arts than their other Bibb County counterparts, 33.3 percent to 19.7 percent. Math scores followed a similar trend with Cirrus at 24.6 percent, compared to Bibb’s 15 percent.

A phone message left at the school for comment wasn’t immediately returned Thursday.

As a whole, Bibb County students showed growth across grade levels, with increases in the number of students in grades 3, 5, 6, and 8 reading at or above grade level. Students in those grades, and in high school, also showed increases in English Language Arts, according to a Bibb County school district statement.

Bibb County students showed growth in math in elementary and middle school grade levels.

Ninth-graders showed a dramatic boost in proficiency in Literature and Composition. At Macon’s Academy for Classical Education charter school, 89.4 percent of students were deemed “proficient” or “distinguished” learners in ninth grade Literature and Composition.

The results also reflected smaller increases in Biology and Physical Science.

Growth rates in high school math subject areas are difficult to track because of “frequent changes” to the state’s math curriculum and testing requirements, according to Bibb County schools.

“Our teachers and students are to be commended for the growth demonstrated over the past year,” Superintendent Curtis L. Jones Jr. said in a statement. “Our focus on academic improvements and interventions in core content areas has been intentional, and the results of that effort are reflected in these scores.”

Jones said there’s still “a great deal of work” to be done, but with help from community partners, and a continued focus on reading support and keeping students in school daily, “we are well on our way to achieving victory.”

Houston County high schoolers also showed increases in ninth grade Literature and Composition, Algebra I, American Literature and Composition, Biology, Economics, Physical Science and U.S. History, results show.

Milestones tests are administered to students in grades 3 through 12, and they include open-ended questions to better gauge students’ understanding of a subject.

The tests were implemented in 2015 as a replacement for the Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests and End of Course Tests. The exams measure how well students have learned English, language arts, math, science and social studies, compared to what state standards say they should know. The state uses the scores to help grade school performance.

With the test in its third year, teachers and students still are getting used to the format of the test, said Meghan Frick, a state Department of Education spokeswoman.

Statewide, recent changes in instruction for elementary and middle school grades are showing signs of positive impact while it’s taking longer to see results in the upper grades, she said.

For a full listing of scores, visit the Georgia Department of Education’s website, www.gadoe.org.

This story was originally published July 20, 2017 at 10:25 AM with the headline "Milestones test results show student gains, shortcomings in achievement."