Polk School District students showed strong improvement on the 2023-2024 Georgia Milestones mathematics assessments.
The Georgia Department of Education implemented new math standards during the 2023-2024 school year and these new standards were tested for the first time last spring. The results have been released for the Georgia Milestones Assessment in Mathematics and Polk School District is thrilled to announce great success across all grade levels.
Among the highlights of this year’s math test results are:
There was an increase in students scoring at the proficient level in high school Algebra from 25% to 43% in a single year, and the percentage of students scoring at the developing and above level matched the state.
All elementary schools had more than 80% of students score at the developing and above level in 3rd grade math, and ALL six (6) elementary schools scored above the state average for 3rd grade math scores.
Scores grew or held steady (no more than 2 point change) in students scoring in the proficient and distinguished categories on 18 of the 20 tested subjects (including 7 out of 7 math areas). This is above the results seen across the state.
Superintendent Dr. Katie Thomas stated, “We are incredibly proud of the hard work of our mathematics teachers and students. The results are evidence of the hard work we see daily in our classrooms.” Previous interim testing with the Northwest Educational Association Measures of Academic Progress (NWEA MAP) has shown that Polk School District students are on grade level and exceeding the levels of the average students across Georgia and the entire United States. Thomas continued, “Our Georgia Milestones test results confirm what we know about our students and teachers- they can deliver instruction and learning at the highest levels possible.
While these scores are a testament to the hard work that has already occurred, we are continually focused on improvement and will continue to work with the small groups of students who are not meeting the expected level of growth and understanding in math. This school year we have implemented the Edmentum ExactPath program which is designed to deliver ‘just-in-time’ instruction to students in areas in which they have demonstrated a lack of understanding through online, interactive lessons. Additionally, as a district we continue to support efforts to ensure excellent math instruction continues with our newer math teachers and in all classrooms and schools. We are proud of these results and look forward to continued success in the future.
About Georgia Milestones (from the GADOE)
Students take Georgia Milestones End of Grade (EOG) tests in grades 3-8, 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 and once in high school, and in science once per grade band (3-5, 6-9, 10-12).
Georgia Milestones assesses student learning along four levels of achievement: Beginning Learners, Developing Learners, Proficient Learners, and Distinguished Learners.
See the attached link for the GaDOE Press Release.