Science results greatly improved, language art scores down
Local high school graduation test scores from 2008 have been released, with results showing that the Madison County School System is close to or above the state average in percentage of students passing for most test areas.
For the first time this year, the English/language arts and science tests were fully aligned to the state’s new curriculum, according to the Georgia Department of Education. The new exams “call for higher order thinking” and test “more rigorous material.” Area schools saw a drop in English/language arts scores this year, but saw improvements in science.
The four content areas of the graduation test — English/ language arts, math, social studies and science — are given for the first time to juniors in the spring. Students may return and take the test again until they can qualify for a high school diploma.
In Madison County, 85 percent of first-time test takers in their junior year passed the science segment, an area of concern statewide in 2007. In 2007, the local score was 68.2 percent passing. The state average for 2008 is 86 percent passing.
The percent passing English/language arts dropped to 86 percent in 2008 in Madison County, down from the 2007 score of 96.2. The state average in 2008 is 90 percent passing.
Madison County scores showed improvements in both math and social studies, with local math scores above the state average, and social studies results one point shy of the state score.
