Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) students showed strong improvement on the 2022-2023 Georgia Milestones assessments. GCPS continues to score higher than the state in 18 of 20 Milestones assessments, surpassing its previous performance and outperforming the state average in numerous assessment areas. Overall, state scores increased or held steady on 13 of 21 assessments compared to the 2021-2022 school year.
GCPS Superintendent Dr. Calvin J. Watts says the district is focused on helping students. “GCPS students, teachers, staff, and families continue to work together to address COVID-related learning gaps and to provide students with additional opportunities for credit recovery, acceleration, and remediation,” Dr. Watts shares. “From expanding summer learning opportunities to daily classroom instruction, we continue to be student-focused in the supports we offer to address the needs of students. The Milestones are one measure of our students’ learning, and the most recent Milestones results help us see where our efforts are working and where we still have room for improvement.”
| Comparison of 2022 to 2023 | End of Grade | End of Course | Combined | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proficient & Above | increased | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| same | 5 | 0 | 5 | |
| decrease | 6 | 4 | 10 | |
| Developing & Above | increased | 5 | 1 | 6 |
| same | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| decreased | 11 | 3 | 14 | |
Notably, the state scored higher in 8th grade science.
However, it's essential to consider that 71% of the state’s 8th-grade students take the 8th-grade Science Georgia Milestones End of Grade (EOG), whereas only 3% of GCPS 8th graders take the 8th grade Science EOG. Additionally, the state scored higher in the high school Physical Science EOG with only 29% of the state’s qualifying students taking this exam. In comparison, 97% of all GCPS 8th graders take this more rigorous assessment. Many other districts reserve this course for their highest-achieving 8th-grade students.
Despite the encouraging signs, Dr. Watts says there is more work to be done. “While GCPS continues to score higher than the state in 18 of 20 Milestones assessments, we have continued work ahead of us to improve outcomes for our students,” Dr. Watts says. “I believe we are moving in a positive direction, and I know Team GCPS is committed to supporting the academic, social, and behavioral needs of each and every student.”
About Georgia Milestones
Students take Georgia Milestones End of Grade (EOG) tests in grades 3 through 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, once in high school, and in science once per grade band (3-5, 6-8, 9-12).
Georgia Milestones assesses student learning along four levels of achievement:
- Beginning Learners do not yet demonstrate proficiency in the knowledge and skills necessary at this grade level/course of learning, as specified in Georgia's content standards. The 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 demonstrate partial proficiency in the knowledge and skills necessary at this grade level/course of learning, as specified by Georgia's content standards. The 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 demonstrate proficiency in the knowledge and skills necessary at this grade level/course of learning, as specified in Georgia's content standards. The students are prepared for the next grade level or course and are on track for college and career readiness.
- Distinguished Learners demonstrate advanced proficiency in the knowledge and skills necessary at this grade level/course of learning, as specified in Georgia's content standards. The students are well prepared for the next grade level or course and are well prepared for college and career readiness.
In GCPS, teachers work hard to move students to higher levels of learning where they are not just Developing but can show that they are Proficient and Distinguished learners. In April and May 2023, 137,381 Gwinnett students took more than 260,907 state Milestones assessments.
A review of how metro Atlanta's largest school districts move students to higher levels of learning (Proficient and Distinguished) shows that Gwinnett continues to be among the top metro districts.
A Closer Look at Gwinnett Elementary and Middle School EOG Results:
At the elementary school level, across all subject areas and grade levels, GCPS had a more significant percentage of students in the top two performance levels (Proficient and Distinguished) than the state. Middle school results were similar except for 8th grade math and science, as many of our 8th grade GCPS students took more rigorous courses and were assessed by the high school EOC assessment.
English Language Arts
- For 7th grade, scores increased, with 49% scoring Proficient and Distinguished compared to 47% from the previous year. State score also grew by 3%
- For 3rd, 5th, and 8th graders, scores in Distinguished and Proficient remained the same as the prior year.
Mathematics
- A higher percentage of students in all grades scored in the combined "Proficient" and "Distinguished" categories.
- In grades 3 through 8, the percentage of Gwinnett students scoring in the Proficient and Distinguished categories improved.
- For 3rd grade, scores increased from 50% scoring Proficient and Distinguished, to 52%.
- The percentage of GCPS 4th graders scoring in the Proficient and Distinguished categories increased from 53% to 54%.
- Gwinnett's 5th grade scores increased from 44% in the Proficient and Distinguished categories to 45%.
- GCPS 6th graders scoring in the top two levels maintained a prior year score of 42%.
- Gwinnett saw an increase in the percentage of 8th graders scoring at the Proficient and Distinguished levels, moving from 42% to 45%. The state percentage remained the same.
Science
- GCPS and state lost 3% in the Proficient and Distinguished categories for 8th grade Science.
High School EOC Results:
GCPS percentages of students in the Proficient and Distinguished performance levels were above the state in all subjects.
Language Arts
- American Literature and Composition scores in GCPS were 43% Proficient and Distinguished. This is above the state rate of 40%.
- American Literature and Composition went from 49% in 2022 to 43% in 2023.
Mathematics
- GCPS students scored 46% in the Proficient and Distinguished categories, while 37% of students had the same achievement across the state.
- Algebra I EOC went from 48% in 2022 to 46% in 2023.
Science
- Fifty-four percent of GCPS students scored Proficient and Distinguished, compared to 47% of the students in the state.
- Biology EOC went from 57% in 2022 to 54% in 2023.
Social Studies
- In U.S. History, 40% of Gwinnett students scored in the Proficient and Distinguished performance levels, while 37% of students in the state scored at those levels.
- U.S. History EOC scores went from 47% in 2022 to 40% in 2023.
The information gained through formative and summative assessments, such as the Milestones, is vital to the teaching and learning process. The 2023 results will drive opportunities to raise achievement among each and every student in the upcoming year.