State Milestone Assessment results for the spring of 2017 were released Thursday by the Georgia Department of Education, and Coweta County students continue to show strong results compared to state-wide performance averages.

Overall, Coweta County School System students in grades 3 through 8 outperformed their peers statewide on the annual grade and subject exams.

The Georgia Milestones Assessment System is the state’s comprehensive testing program for students, covering a number of subject exams in grades 3 through 12.

 This release examines student performance rates on End of Grade exams taken by students in grades 3 through 8 in the spring of 2017. Results for Coweta County’s High School End of Course exams – which were taken by Coweta County students in both Winter 2016 and Spring 2017, due to high school block scheduling - are being calculated and will be examined is a separate release.

For the annual Milestone End of Grade exams, students in grades 3 through 8 are tested in the Spring on their grade-level proficiencies in English/Language Arts and Math.  Students in grades 5 and 8 take additional grade-level tests in Science and Social Studies.

Student performance on the Georgia Milestones is reported in one of four categories – Beginning Learner, Developing Learner, Proficient Learner, and Distinguished Learner. These levels are intended to reflect student mastery of the content area in each grade level. The state examines the data based on the top three levels (developing and higher) and top two levels of student performance (proficient and higher).  

Coweta County School System students outperformed the state in 16 of the 16 assessment areas, with higher percentages of Coweta students scoring in the top two and top three categories for all exams.

The percentage of Coweta County School System students scoring in the top two and top three categories on the Milestones exams also showed increases over 2016 performance rates in several grade and subject areas, particularly in elementary grades.

Georgia law requires a comprehensive summative assessment program in grades three through 12, including End of Grade assessments in English / Language Arts and Mathematics for grades three through eight, End of Grade assessments in Science and Social Studies for grades five and eight, and End of Course assessments in designated core subjects for grades nine through 12.

The higher bar for student proficiency set by Georgia Milestones is aimed at better preparing students for college and career and providing a more realistic picture of academic progress. Milestones test results also factor into school and system performance ratings in Georgia’s College and Career Readiness Index.

Milestones achievement levels aim to capture the progression of student learning and help teachers and parents better pinpoint where students are and give students more opportunities to succeed:

Beginning Learners do not yet demonstrate proficiency in the knowledge and skills necessary at this grade level and subject, as specified in Georgia’s content standards. Beginning Learners need substantial academic support in the subject 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 and subject, as specified by Georgia’s content standards. Developing Learners need additional academic support in the subject 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. Proficient Learners 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. Distinguished Learners are well prepared for the next grade level or course and are well prepared for college and career readiness.