Georgia Department of Education published its Milestones scores for the 2023-2024 school year last week.
The assessment system looks at multiple subject areas and whether or not students are performing at the level they need to be. According to a news release from GDOE , overall scores increased or held steady on 10 of 13 assessments in English-language arts, science, and social studies. Georgia Superintendent Richard Woods praised this accomplishment.
“I am proud of Georgia’s students and educators for their continued hard work, which has led to consistent improvements in student performance over the last several years,” Woods said. “As a state, we have invested in academic recovery and the supports districts need to get all students on track for successful futures. There is certainly still work to be done, but I am confident we are on the right path.”
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Georgia's Milestones math scores won't be available until later this fall due to the assessments being updated to align with the new K-12 mathematics standards. In the meantime, below is a closer look at some key subject areas along with which Augusta-area schools were top performers in the state and which were among the worst.
Reading
Third grade is considered a pivotal point for establishing proficient reading levels. Here are the schools that ranked in the higher 95th percentile in amount of students reading at or above their grade level:
- C.T. Walker Magnet School (Richmond County)
- Riverside Elementary (Columbia County)
- North Columbia Elementary (Columbia County)
- River Ridge Elementary (Columbia County)
- Greenbrier Elementary (Columbia County)
Below them are four Columbia County schools that scored in the high 90th percentile including Lewiston Elementary, Baker Place Elementary, Stevens Creek Elementary, and Parkway Elementary.
Six Richmond County schools scored in the low 10th percentile including Richmond Hill K-8, Jamestown Elementary, Wilkinson Gardens Elementary, Meadowbrook Elementary, Dorothy Hains Elementary, and Hephzibah Elementary.
Four other Richmond County schools scored in the lower 5th percentile including Barton Chapel Elementary, Wheeless Road Elementary, Glenn Hills Elementary, and W.S. Hornsby Elementary.
Social Studies
Milestones start assessing social studies skills in the eighth grade. Here are the schools whose average scores ranked in the higher 95th percentile:
- Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School (Richmond County)
- Greenbrier Middle (Columbia County)
- Stallings Island Middle (Columbia County)
- Evans Middle (Columbia County)
Besides these, only one local school scored in the high 90th percentile: A.R. Johnson Magnet School in Richmond County.
Two Richmond County schools scored in the low 10th percentile: Hephzibah Middle and Belair K-8.
Seven Richmond County schools scored in the even lower 5th percentile: Langford Middle, Pine Hill Middle, W.S. Hornsby Middle, Glenn Hills Middle, Spirit Creek Middle, Richmond Hill K-8, and Murphey Middle.
Georgia Milestones: Best and worst school districts in reading, science, social studies
Science
Milestones also start assessing science skills in the eighth grade. While multiple scored at or above the state average, none ranked in the high 90th percentile or higher.
However, five Richmond County schools ranked in the low 10th percentile: Hephzibah Middle, Tutt Middle, Belair K-8, Pine Hill Middle, and Spirit Creek Middle.
Another five Richmond County schools ranked in the lower 5th percentile: W.S. Hornsby Middle, Murphey Middle, Glenn Hills Middle, Richmond Hill K-8, and Langford Middle.
The rankings above are based on approximate data provided by GDOE. To access the raw data and view scores in the other academic subjects assessed, go to gadoe.org .
This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Georgia Milestones: Best and worst Augusta-area schools in reading, science, social studies
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