Georgia Partnership Encouraged by Eighth-Grade Math Proficiency Gains & SAT Participation
September 30, 2024
The Georgia Partnership for Excellence In Education
PRESS RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT: Robert Gaines, rgaines@gpee.org, 678-476-4491
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September 30, 2024 – The Georgia Department of Education recently released SAT scores for the state’s graduating class of 2024, as well as Georgia Milestones assessment results in Math for the 2023-2024 school year.
The Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education (Georgia Partnership) has documented the importance of SAT and ACT as yardsticks for measuring the college and career readiness of Georgia’s high school graduates. Both College Board and ACT produce scoring benchmarks that help students understand how their results correlate with their chances of succeeding in their post-secondary endeavors. “It is certainly positive news that our most recent cohort of graduating seniors performed above the national average on the SAT, and it is especially good news that test participation has increased after declines during the pandemic,” said Dr. Dana Rickman, president of the Georgia Partnership. “Knowing that 65% of jobs in Georgia by 2033 will require some education beyond high school, it is to our state’s long-term benefit to increase the percentage of high school seniors who take the SAT and thereby position themselves to matriculate through one of Georgia’s many postsecondary institutions.”
The Georgia Partnership has also emphasized the significance of eighth-grade math proficiency for secondary and postsecondary success. “An eight percentage-point improvement in proficiency on the eighth-grade Math assessment is incredibly heartening, particularly when considering that preparedness for Algebra I is an important post-secondary readiness indicator for high school students,” noted Dr. Rickman. “More broadly, a nearly double-digit percentage point improvement in math is a testament to the grit and determination of educators and students across Georgia who have yet to fully recover from the pandemic’s devastating impact on teaching and learning.”
About Georgia Milestones
Students take Georgia Milestones End of Grade (EOG) tests in grades three through eight, 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, 6-8, 9-12).
Georgia Milestones assesses student learning along four levels of achievement:
Beginning Learners do not yet demonstrate proficiency in the knowledge and skills necessary at this grade level/course of learning, as specified in Georgia’s content standards. The students need substantial academic support 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/course of learning, as specified by Georgia’s content standards. The students need additional academic support 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. The students 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. The students are well prepared for the next grade level or course and are well prepared for college and career readiness.
When reporting state assessment results, the Georgia Department of Education combines the Proficient and Distinguished Learner levels to create a composite measure: the percentage of students scoring at or above proficiency.
About SAT
Administered by the College Board, the Scholastic Aptitude Test, or SAT, is composed of two sections: Reading and Writing and Math.
The current version of the assessment produces a total score ranging from 400 to 1600. Test takers also receive separate scores for the Reading and Writing and Math sections.
Students meet or exceed readiness benchmarks if they score above 480 on the Reading and Writing and 530 on the Math sections. The benchmark is based on research that demonstrates students have at least a 75% chance of earning at least a C in their first credit-bearing college courses in English and Math.