With the latest Georgia Milestones results free from embargo, Gilmer County Schools revealed its strong scores in mathematics.
Georgia Milestones are designed to provide information about how well students are mastering state-adopted content standards in the content areas of English Language Arts (ELA), mathematics, science and social studies.
The Milestones consist of end of grade (EOG) measures in ELA and math for grades three through eight, in science in grades five through eight and in eighth-grade social studies.
End of course (EOC) measures are for the specified high school courses of American Literature and Composition, algebra I, biology and U.S. history at the end of the course, regardless of the grade level.
The four achievement tiers include level one beginning learners, level two developing learners, level three proficient learners and level four distinguished learners.
In September, Gilmer’s data was presented by Title IX Coordinator Nicole Pike at the Gilmer County Board of Education work session. At the time, math results were omitted, but Pike was able to share those results at Monday’s October work session.
Gilmer Schools’ combined percentage of developing, proficient and distinguished learners for mathematics in grades three through eight all greatly exceed state averages.
North Georgia Regional Educational Service Agency (NGRESA) consists of Cherokee, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield County school districts, and Gilmer ranks first or second in four grades. Top EOG math scores for NGRESA belong to Gilmer sixth (83.6 percent) and eighth graders (95.3). Ranking second are fifth (83.3) and seventh (84.4) graders.
For Gilmer High’s math EOC, 72.5 percent are either developing, proficient or distinguished learners. The school has made significant strides in recent years as its 2021 math EOC was 48.7. One-hundred percent of eighth graders who took algebra ranked as developing, proficient or distinguished learners. Coupled with Gilmer High’s mark, it bumps the district’s math EOC score to 76.7 percent.
“With the new math standards released, we were really glad to see where our performance was,” said superintendent Dr. Brian Ridley. “We’re well above the state in all areas and have seen a lot of growth, and eighth grade is particularly impressive. At 95.3 percent, that translates to only 13 kids who scored in the lowest level.
“It’s very impressive and a testament to not only teachers, but to our academic coaches who have supported the rollout of these new standards. Our curriculum department here at the district has done a great job of supporting the teachers, but the teachers have really dove in with both feet. We’ve made some good gains, and we’re very proud of our kids and proud of our staff.”